Planning permission been granted for a new mental health hospital to replace the Central Mental Hospital.
An Bord Pleanála has approved plans for the new 120-bed National Forensic Hospital and two 10-bed specialist units in Portrane, Co Dublin.
The new site will provide specialist services for those with intellectual disabilities, as well as child and adolescent mental health services.
The current 84-bed Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, south Dublin, first opened in the 1850s.
A 2014 report by the Mental Health Commission said the Central Mental Hospital building is “outdated and unsuitable as a mental health facility for the 21st century”.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said the progress marked on Wednesday is “hugely significant in terms of developments in mental health”.
“Looking after our mental health is as important as minding our physical health. Those who need help with their mental health are right to expect treatment in modern conditions.
‘State-of-the-art facility’
“This new state-of-the-art facility will go a long way to meet that demand. It’s an important milestone on our path to providing modern mental healthcare,” he said.
Junior Minister Kathleen Lynch said she expects the modern facilities to become operational by 2018.
She said Ireland has been playing “catch-up” in a bid to provide funding and facilities for mental health services, but said the necessary resources are now being prioritised.
This site will comprise a 120-bed National Forensic Hospital which will replace the Central Mental Hospital, a new 10-bed Mental Health Intellectual Disability Forensic Unit and a 10-bed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Forensic Unit.
“Patients, their families and staff will benefit from transferring from an antiquated building to state-of the-art facilities in a new modern forensic setting,” said Ms Lynch.
Design work
The junior Minister said design work will begin on three 30-bed Intensive Care Rehabilitation Units (ICRUs) in Cork, Galway and Portrane, with a fourth ICRU planned for an existing facility in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
Meanwhile, Independent councillor for Swords Paul Mulville criticised An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant permission for the hospital.
“This decision today is a sad day for local democracy and an incitement of the planning process under the Government’s Strategic Infrastructure Bill,” he said.
“I have long supported plans to locate the new National Forensic Mental Health Service in Portrane, however only on the basis that community concerns about construction traffic and other related matters would first be meaningfully addressed.
“We must now consider every possible means at our disposal to ensure the community’s concerns will be addressed,” he added.