More details on Older Persons Care project

A proposed Older Persons Care development at Kilcullen aims to provide 98 independent living units and an 80-bed nursing care facility, writes Brian Byrne. The proposal was recently lodged as a planning application with Kildare County Council.

According to the detailed planning statement lodged by Curragh Property DAC, the complex will also offer long term dementia care as well as accommodation for respite, recuperation, transitional and step-down care.

The application is based on a 'well documented, significant demand, and shortage' of facilities for such care, according to the promoters. This is with background modelling that suggests 1.4 million, or 23pc of the population, will be over the age of 65 by 2040.

The key principles behind the proposal include enabling Ageing in Place, people staying Socially Connected, and the use of Assistive Technology. The promoters also say that the project supports urban renewal and promotes sustainable lifetime housing.

The project is described as a Centre of Excellence that will provide a 'continuum of care' across all relevant levels, in a facility that is hailed as the first of its kind in Ireland.

Other advantages listed include the development removing the need for Older Persons having to attend overcrowded hospitals, which will also cut the risk of them getting hospital-acquired infections.

Allowing elderly residents to maintain their 'established sense of place' within the community of Kilcullen, and also potentially 'freeing up' larger family homes in the town and surrounding area are also features of the proposal.

The detailed plans in the statement show a dedicated Primary Care Centre as a key component of the campus.

Two main buildings are proposed, each 3-4 stories high, which will include 78 1-bed apartments and 20 2-bed units, the ground floor ones with terraces and those upstairs with balconies.

A library, cafeteria, and hair salon would also be included, along with appropriate common areas for the living units as well as associated services such as laundry and staff stations. The planning statement also lists the various shops, services, community and sports facilities in Kilcullen which are all within walking distance of the location.

The developers have linked with the Clúid Housing Association for advice on the design of the buildings and facilities, and the overall concept has been devised by CWPA Planning & Architecture who have prior experience with the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University.

In other documents lodged with the application, a number of issues relating to traffic management and access to the site are noted, with suggestions for their mitigation.

Submissions to the planning authority by interested parties must be made by 24 August 2021. The planning reference is 211068.

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