Council gives its blessing to Multy plan

Westmeath County Council has given the green light to a development at the grounds of the Franciscan Abbey at Multyfarnham, guaranteeing 41 jobs for the area.LARCC Cancer Care and Console: Living with Suicide - have been given the go-ahead to alter and extend buildings at the abbey to bring their respective national headquarters to Multyfarnham.The grant of planning permission will allow the organisations to make alterations to enable them provide cancer counselling and retreat services, and provide a centre to advise and train people dealing with suicide-related bereavement at the former agricultural training college.As part of the alterations, permission has been granted to renovate existing rooms to provide administration and counselling offices, meeting rooms, bedrooms, common rooms, therapy rooms, a new stairwell and fire escapes, and a kitchen and dining areas.Permission has also been granted to demolish the disused derelict building and gym.In February, the Westmeath Examiner reported that the arrival of Console and LARCC would bring an estimated 41 jobs to Multyfarnham.Console is moving its national headquarters from Dublin to Multy.One wing has been retained by the Franciscan Order.As reported in February, the LARCC/Console project is part of a broader plan to develop lands around the Abbey.Westmeath GAA has been unwilling to confirm or deny that it is the local sporting organisation which has been allocated lands to develop a centre of excellence, while consultants involved in the development at Multy said that "aspirational plans" exist for the development of a green technology centre, among other initiatives.