North Dublin Council debates new mental health hospital

Councillors from north Dublin have voiced concerns over plans to build a new mental health hospital in the region.

Fingal County Council discussed the HSE's planning application for a National Forensic Mental Health Hospital, which is under consideration by An Bord Pleanála, at a meeting on Monday night.

The HSE plans to build the new facility on the grounds of St Ita's Hospital in Portrane, north County Dublin, near the village of Donabate. It is set to replace the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum.

Paul Reid, Fingal County Council chief executive, said the council was enthusiastic about the project, which will produce jobs and utilize a site that is largely derelict.

Speaking before Monday's meeting, Fianna Fáil Cllr Adrian Henchy said he broadly welcomed the project but had "serious concerns", including road access to the new site and potential traffic congestion caused by long-term construction work.

“The villages of Donabate and Portrane are quite small. In the proposal’s current format, construction traffic would travel past the village [of Donabate], housing estates and local schools, where it is already very congested at times,” he said. “I hope An Bord Pleanála considers accessing the site via a different route.”

Independent Cllr Paul Mulville said there had been a “lack of meaningful consultation with the local community”.

The council agreed to make several recommendations to An Bord Pleanála concerning road improvements and the appointment of a community liaison officer.

An Bord Pleanála granted the project Strategic Infrastructure Development status in September. Interested parties had seven weeks to make submissions.

A spokesman for An Bord Pleanála said there were 47 participants in the submissions process, including Fáilte Ireland, Irish Water, the Irish Aviation Authority, local interest groups and several councillors.

The spokesman said An Bord Pleanála is scheduled to make a planning decision in April 2015.