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Hospice construction could start next month

Wednesday, 24 September 2008

WORK on the a new and badly needed hospice in Dublin 15 could begin as early as next month following the granting of planning permission by Fingal County Council.
St Francis Hospice will be a two-storey development located on Abbotstown lands, adjacent to Connolly Hospital from which it will be accessed.
The hospice will boast state-of-the-art day care, out patient and therapy areas as well as a paramedical department and a 24-bed in-patient unit.
The plans also include a bereavement and education building for relatives, a mortuary and a fully landscaped garden for recreational use.
Fingal County Council recently gave the green light for the development, subject to nine planning conditions.
Local TD Leo Varadkar (FG), said the Dublin 15 community has pushed hard to see the hospice developed in the area.
“I am very pleased at the council’s speedy decision to grant permission for the hospice,” he said.
“The hospice project has been a unifying force for the community in Dublin 15.
“So much money has been raised and there is so much goodwill shown towards the project.”
St Francis Hospice provides palliative care to patients in Dublin with advanced cancer and Motor Neurone disease and is a voluntary organisation under the care of the Daughters of Charity.
St Francis Hospice chief executive Ethel McKenna revealed that building works on the project would get underway at the end of October.
“We are absolutely delighted that the planning permission came through,” she told Northside People.
“We also really appreciate that the Government has allocated the 6.8 acre site for the development.
“The building works will be completed in two phases. The first phase will focus on providing a base for our community palliative care team, which we hope to have completed by 2010.
“The second phase will involve the construction of the in-patient unit.”
Ms McKenna said the development of the hospice in Dublin 15 is thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Dublin 15 community.
“There is a special fundraising committee in Dublin 15 who have been so supportive and proactive,” she praised.
“They have raised over e3.25 million for the project already. All services at St Francis Hospice are provided completely free of charge which is why we have to rely so heavily on the good work and generosity of the local community and I have to say the people in Dublin 15 have been wonderful”
She added: “We believe that the estimated cost of the hospice in Dublin 15 could be somewhere in the region of e29 million.”

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