St Loman's Hospital being considered for refugee accommodation

Part of the St Loman's Hospital complex could soon be used as temporary accommodation to house refugees that have fled Ukraine.

In a statement released this week, the HSE said that the historic building “due to its age and condition is not readily compatible for the provision of modern healthcare services and it’s future use is being considered”.

“Westmeath County Council have recently engaged with the HSE around the potential use of part of St. Loman’s, Mullingar to provide accommodation the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis. We are awaiting confirmation as to whether it is appropriate or not

“Any disposal of HSE property to include the former psychiatric hospital, St. Loman’s, Mullingar will be in accordance with the HSE’s Property Protocol and the procedures set out for all property transactions between State bodies under DPER Circulars 11/2015 and 17/2016.”

Last week, the Mayor of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District Cllr Hazel Smyth criticised the HSE for not finding a productive use for vacant buildings such as St Loman's and St Peter's in Castlepollard.

“You have these huge buildings that are there and that do need some TLC. The HSE seem to want to hold onto them with dear life rather than give someone an opportunity to do something with them and to develop them into something that is useful for the community,” she told Midlands 103.