Retirement and care facility submissions for Orlagh House
SIX Rathfarnham residents have lodged submissions in support of a proposed Specific Local Objective (SLO) for a retirement and age care facility in the grounds of Orlagh House.
The SLO was proposed by the owners of Orlagh House, who said that the current zoning of the site for rural use could be expanded to allow for additional uses.
These additional uses could be as health care, a nursing home, housing for the elderly and associated convalescent uses that would benefit from a rural or ‘green’ setting, according to the submission.
A masterplan enclosed in the submission, titled ‘Montpelier Retirement and Aged Care Facility’, detailed plans for an extensive aged care facility in the grounds of Orlagh House.
“The proposed healthcare uses at the subject site would provide a connection between the rural area and other uses on the opposite side of Gunny Hill, such as schools and existing residential, and would provide improved opportunities for the elderly to continue to live in the local area,” according to the submission.
In order to facilitate this, the owners have requested that a SLO should be included in the upcoming County Development Plan.
Their proposed wording for the SLO is: “To facilitate a retirement and aged care facility within a rural setting, including nursing home, recovery facilities, later living units, key worker accommodation and associated recreational facilities at Gunny Hill, Rathfarnham, subject to environmental assessments, visual assessment, topographical detail, conservation assessments and due consideration being given to ensuring sensitive design and conservation of historical, architectural and archaeological features of the existing buildings and land.”
This SLO is being supported by six Rathfarnham residents, namely Frank Brooks, Brendan O’Reilly, Michael Cullinane, Kieran Kelly, Conor Molloy and Kevin Dooley.
They lodged submissions voicing their view that the development of healthcare facilities in the aforementioned location would be a positive move for the locality.
In similarly worded submissions, all of the residents said they gave their “full support” to the proposed SLO, stating that “lands for a future facility would be well-founded at this location”.
Orlagh House was previously owned by the Augustinians, and is currently used as an event venue.
