Gate at hospital Luas stop will open in the Spring
By Mary Dennehy
TALLAGHT Hospital has confirmed that it will open the gate at the Cookstown Luas stop in spring of 2018, with the project currently at an “advanced stage”.
For a number of years, the community has been waiting for a new entrance to the health facility from the Cookstown Luas platform to be opened, which would provide a more direct route into the hospital.
Currently, those travelling by Luas to the hospital have to walk around the outside of the hospital to the main gates – where they access the hospital from.
In order to make the hospital more accessible for visitors and patients, many of whom are ill or elderly, hospital management decided to open a new gate at the Cookstown platform.
However, despite receiving planning permission for the development and confirming to The Echo four years ago that works would be completed in September 2013, the entrance remains closed.
Due to public pressure, local councillors recently sought clarification from the CEO of Tallaght Hospital on the development.
In his reply, CEO David Slevin wrote: “The Luas entrance will be opened in the spring of 2018.
“Building work is currently underway and the project is at an advanced stage of completion.
“The hospital looks forward to its opening and welcomes the opportunity to greatly enhance the travel experience for those who avail of public transportation to visit Tallaght Hospital.”
He added: “The hospital will balance providing reasonable opening hours to accommodate for the peak demand whilst maintaining a safe local environment for all that use this new entrance.”
