Planning granted for care unit communal dwelling near Ramelton

Planning permission has been granted by Donegal County Council for the creation of a communal dwelling unit in Ramelton to benefit home residents with intellectual or physical disabilities. 

Nua Healthcare Services Ltd, which runs a care home at Grovehall, situated between Ramelton and Kilmacrennan, was the listed applicant for the project and successfully proposed the conversion of the existing garage into a double occupancy dwelling unit.

Works are to include internal alterations to provide living, dining, and bathroom facilities for persons with intellectual or physical disabilities, along with modifications to external elevations and all associated site works.

The proposed unit will have a gross floor area of 122sqm and would be located to the rear of the existing main residential care unit. 

Currently, the existing dwelling provides a community residence for people, both male and female, with intellectual disabilities. The dwelling accommodates up to a maximum of four resident service users in the four bedrooms, a large communal kitchen, dining, living area and utility/laundry rooms.

In a statement which supported their application, Nua Healthcare Services Ltd stated that “the provision of a double occupancy unit complements the care provided within the main house by enabling residents to live semi-independently in what is essentially their own home, while still having access to support staff in the communal areas. This arrangement also allows for flexibility in living arrangements, where residents may live separately from those in the main dwelling but can socialise or associate with them when appropriate.”

Nua Healthcare Services Ltd further commented: “The rising demand for the service noted in the Disability Capacity Review is evidenced by the continued waiting lists for admission into our service, and Nua is working tirelessly to develop additional capacity to mitigate the HSE waiting times.”

The Department of Health’s published ‘Disability Capacity Review to 2032 - A Review of Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032’ was also highlighted to support the application.

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An extract of the report read: “Overall, the disability population is expected to grow up to 2032, with a change in the overall age structure which will affect demand for disability services.

“For adults, similar rates of increase are forecast for those with an intellectual or other form of disability.”

Donegal County Council granted planning permission with six conditions, including a condition that the applicant should pay a contribution of €4,130.40 in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority that is already provided, or is intended to be provided by the Authority.

Other conditions were imposed to cater for orderly development and restrict the use of the building, to prevent flooding, to preserve the amenities of the areas, and in the interests of public health.