Stipulations in the current County Development Plan mean what was formerly Our Ladyโs Hospital cannot be knocked or delisted until after 2023 at the earliest.
Such detail came to light at the first sitting of the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) of this Council term which Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) succeeding the now retired Richard Nagle (FF) as Cathaoirleach.
Our Ladyโs Hospital was described by Cllr Pat Daly (FF) as โthe best site in the town of Ennisโ. He lamented that โit has been bought, sold, bought and sold over the last fifteen yearsโ. โIt is 40 acres in the town and was a derelict hospital that served its purpose for over 100 years. Can it be delisted, all that is there is dogs and birds. The potential for Our Ladys is enormous,โ the Ennis representative added.
Director of Service with the County Council, Liam Conneally confirmed to Cllr Daly that he had took note of the โdevelopment friendlyโ aspects of the Gort Rd site as outlined.
Senior planner, Brian McCarthy stated, โThe site is protected structure, as of now there are no plans to remove it. Itโs identified as an opportunity site. Iโm happy to sit down and meet whoever wants to take the site forwardโ. Cllr Daly then questioned, โCan it be delistedโ and he was told โthere was no recommendation for itโ and that the building was listed as being of โregional and national importanceโ.
โCan a submission be madeโ, Daly asked, McCarthy advised him this could be done โin advanceโ of the next County Development Plan, a review on the current plan is due to commence this month. โThe building is falling down,โ a frustrated Cllr Daly told the meeting.