THE DECISION by An Bord Pleanála to hold an oral hearing into a proposed €242 million co-located private hospital on the grounds of Cork University Hospital (CUH) has been welcomed by public representatives opposed to the plan.
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle, Green Party councillor Chris O'Leary and his Socialist Party colleague Mick Barry all welcomed the decision to hold a hearing into the plan by the Beacon Medical Group (BMG) to build a 185-bed private hospital on the CUH campus. All three public representatives had, along with residents groups in Wilton and Bishopstown, lodged appeals against the decision by Cork City Council in March 2008 to grant planning permission to the BMG.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin was also opposed to the plan and said it was "unsustainable" because of traffic and congestion.
Mr Boyle said the issue needs to be examined in sufficient detail before a final decision is made and he expressed reservations about the impact on traffic and parking in the Wilton area.
"There is no reason why a co-location hospital has to be on the same campus as an existing public hospital. This can be seen in Limerick where the co-location hospital is five minutes away from Limerick Regional Hospital," he said.
"Cork University Hospital is already over developed, with considerable existing difficulties in terms of parking and traffic in the Wilton area. There needs to be an alternative proposal for a co-location hospital if it is to go ahead."
Mr O'Leary also welcomed the move and said a decision on planning could not be made without hearing arguments by both residents and representatives.
Mr Barry said he will be preparing "a detailed and cogent case" against the development and he strongly condemned the entire Government policy on co-location and privatisation in the health service.
However, BMG spokeswoman Pauline Cullen said the company fully accepted planning procedures, but expressed disappointment at the decision by An Bord Pleanála while stressing that the company remains fully committed to the project.
Although no date has been fixed by An Bord Pleanála for the hearing, Ms Cullen said BMG remained confident that the board would remain on course to reach a decision on the project by its declared decision date of November 25th.
