Permission sought for greater respite care capacity in Letterkenny

Planning permission has been sought from Donegal County Council for the extension of a respite house in Letterkenny to allow respite to continue “at a greater capacity than present” in the Letterkenny area.

The HSE (North West) has submitted the planning application for a proposal regarding Ballymacool Respite House.

Proposed within the submitted application is the construction of a single-storey extension to the existing respite house, and provision of additional car parking spaces, and all associated works and site works.

Within the supporting documents was a cover letter authored by Lauren McLaughlin of AL Architects, on behalf of the applicant. She stated: “This extension to the existing HSE Ballymacool Respite House will provide one fully self-contained unit, with separate access, to allow respite care for those who require their own space.

“It will allow the rest of the Respite House to remain in use by other users at the same time. At the moment, if someone requiring respite who requires their own space and no other users in their common spaces, the whole house can only be used for one person. With this extension, it will allow for multiple users at the same time, as someone requiring their own space in this new self-contained area.

“Each respite resident has significant care needs, which are supported by around-the-clock nursing and healthcare staff.

“Granting planning approval for this extension will allow respite care to continue in Letterkenny and the surrounding area, at a greater capacity than present.”

Donegal County Council has set a decision due date for the submitted application for December 14.