WATCH: Many trees cut in Portlaoise to make way for HSE patients car park

An extensive clearance of trees and vegetation has been carried out in Portlaoise to pave the way for a further expansion at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

The HSE has confirmed that a contractor has started works on the new car park for the hospital. The site for the car park is located across the Block Road beside the HSE ambulance base and a HSE day care centre.

A statement confirmed what clearance work was needed on the land which falls within the curtilage of St Fintan's Hospital. 

"The evergreen trees along the roadway were removed as part of the enabling works to open up the site. The contractor is aiming to have all the resurfacing works completed by end of year. The fencing, footpaths and high bay lighting will follow," it said.

Planning permission was approved in March 2024 to allow the HSE build a temporary car park on the site. 

"The new carpark will provide 100 additional spaces and it will be permanent. The intention is that this will free up spaces in the main hospital carpark for service users," said the HSE.

When the application was lodged in 2023 the HSE explained the need.

“Due to the expansion of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and the currently ongoing construction of the new Respiratory Assessment Unit and Paediatrics Extension granted under Planning Ref. 21/756, there has been a displacement of existing car parking facilities to accommodate the proposed new build. The proposed temporary car parking is to accommodate for these spaces for the duration of these and other ongoing building works at the campus,” architects for the HSE explained in the planning application.

The expansion adds to a three-phased extension and alteration to the existing car parking within the Laois hospital grounds that was announced in 2020 to create 240 new spaces.

Phase 1 involved 101 extra spaces to existing carparks. Phase 2 involved 80 new car spaces to the west of the hospital beside the Block Road entrance. The final phase involved the reconfiguration and extension to the carpark at Dublin Road entrance including the upgrade of Dublin Road entrance.