FINGAL County Council has pitched a strong case for the development of the new national children’s hospital on the site of Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
The council recently sent a submission, seen by Northside People, to the Dolphin Group in charge of reviewing the planning and location for the new National Paediatric Hospital (NPH).
In the submission, nine land parcels in the Fingal area are offered and evaluated in terms of the key criteria and requirements of the new children’s hospital.
However, Connolly Hospital, which was a strong contender during the initial planning phase back in 2006, was singled out as the most ideal site for the new development for a number of reasons.
According to council planners, the Dublin 15 site fulfils the accessibility criteria in its proximity to the M1 and M50 motorways, the N3, Dublin Airport and rail lines.
The lands at Connolly would not only cater for the development of the paediatric hospital but also any expansion such as the development of a maternity hospital.
The statement reads:
“We [Fingal County Council planners] believe in time that the merits of co-locating a new maternity hospital adjacent and connected to the proposed paediatric hospital will need to be assessed in any new hospital proposal. The development should be future proofed to provide for this (in particular given the minister’s intention that this hospital would be fit for purpose for 100 years).
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The lands at Connolly Hospital are also ideal in that there are no immediate residential units in the environs of the site that would be sensitive to the development.
It was also emphasised that Fingal County Council doesn’t have any adopted height restrictions and as such
“each site and development is assessed on its merits
?. It was this issue that proved to be the downfall of the Mater Hospital site proposal, which was refused permission in February.
Concluding the pitch for locating the National Paediatric Hospital in Blanchardstown, the council’s planners indicated that the build budget would be the only significant cost relating to the site, given that the lands are in State ownership and there would be little, if any, site clearance costs.
Other sites offered by Fingal County Council to the Dolphin Group for consideration include the former Phoenix Park Racecourse, (which has the support of private owner Flynn O’Flaherty); Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital; Connon’s Land in Merryfalls/Sillogue; Ballymun Regeneration lands; and Metro Park, Dardistown.
The three other sites suggested were IDA owned land in Clonsaugh/Belcamp; Gerry Gannon owned lands in Belcamp which are under the remit of NAMA; and land in Lissenhall, Swords, a site presented to the council by a consortium of landowners.
Local councillor David McGuinness (FF), who recently put forward a unanimously supported motion proposing the Connolly Hospital site for the development of the hospital, said he would continue to champion the case.
“Connolly has an abundance of land, academic hospital status, access for pedestrians and motorists and does not have planning difficulties,
? Cllr McGuinness stated.
“Fingal’s submission highlights the many positive aspects of what Connolly has to offer.
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Meanwhile, Cllr Kieran Dennison (FG) believes it is becoming
“increasingly obvious that the Mater site is no longer suitable for the new National Children’s Hospital
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“Having read the submission made by the Fingal planners it is clear that the site at Connolly Hospital is superior in many ways and meets all the criteria,
? he said.