Use Loman's for housing: Troy

St Loman’s Hospital and the surrounding site could help solve Mullingar’s housing shortage.

That’s according to Deputy Robert Troy, who believes that the Land Development Agency should look at developing the largely vacant state-owned site.

The Fianna Fáil TD was recently informed by the HSE that the only parts of the main building still in use are some office spaces, which will soon relocate to other buildings on the campus, and the laundry.

In a response to a parliamentary question submitted by Deputy Troy, the HSE also revealed that the rest of the building, which is a protected structure, remains vacant and “unfit for use”.

“Due to health and safety concerns around the condition of the building, including the presence of asbestos, access to the main building is no longer possible and the building is closed to staff and public,” the response stated.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Deputy Troy said that “it’s a crying of shame that it’s been left vacant for so long at a time when we have a housing crisis and a need for accommodation”.

He believes that the Land Development Agency (LDA) should explore whether the site could be developed for housing.

“The LDA was established to intervene where the market wasn’t working, and to develop housing, social, affordable and private; to deliver much needed housing for people who need to get on the property ladder.

“I think the LDA should be looking to see if there are opportunities to develop St Loman’s for affordable houses and starter homes for young couples looking to buy their own place.”

While the main building and many of the other structures on site have protected status, Deputy Troy says that should not prevent them from being redeveloped if deemed suitable.

“There is an onus on the state [to protect and maintain the building]. It is not just fulfilling their obligation by making it a protected structure. They need to maintain it, invest in it, and keep it up to a standard, or it will fall into dereliction; and then what’s the point of it being protected at all at that stage?

“Renovating a protected structure always is going to be more expensive than building on a greenfield site, but we have to do it.

“Why not make the investment and ensure that we’re getting a good use for the community, be it through affordable starter homes, or be it through some use in terms of a community facility, maybe a community centre, or whatever.

“There needs to be a recognition, first and foremost, that just putting a protection order on a building doesn’t mean that you’re done. You’re going to have to follow through on that, with the necessary investment.

“We have to acknowledge that to turn that into accommodation is going to be more expensive than building on a greenfield site, but at least when you do that, you have something tangible at the end of it.

“...There needs to be a plan for this site. There needs to be an engagement with the Land Development Agency to see whether parts of this State-owned land could be repurposed for housing or other local needs.

“The Order of Malta recently approached the HSE and the HSE did identify part of the lands on the campus that could be used as a future Order of Malta site. That shows that unused facilities can be repurposed for the benefit of the wider community.

“I would urge the HSE to make decisions about the future of the site, now rather than letting the campus fall further into disrepair.”

Deputy Troy believes that the St Loman’s site would be an “ideal” location for a housing development.

“You’re on the M4 in terms of people commuting. You have multiple community facilities beside it: such as St Loman’s and Mullingar Shamrocks GAA clubs. You have a school at the top of the road, you have the plans for the new sports centre in Robinstown.

“It just beggars belief that the state, the HSE, would leave it sit there for as long as it has. I want to stoke the bear, for want of a better phrase, to get this conversation going to see can we move this forward.

“If the HSE has no need for it, I do not understand why it is not being used for other much-needed services.

“At a time when there is a huge need for housing stock and other services, it is disgraceful that most of the buildings and land on the site are not being utilised and are instead falling into disrepair.”