Design team appointed for proposed 50-bed Mayo Community Nursing Unit

A design team has been appointed to progress plans for a new 50-bed Community Nursing Unit at Belmullet Hospital, including a dedicated 10-bed dementia household.

Minister Dara Calleary has welcomed confirmation from Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill that the project is moving into the preliminary design stage.

The proposed Community Nursing Unit will provide 50 beds, with 10 specifically designated for dementia care. The appointment of the design team marks the start of the preliminary process, with further stages required before construction can proceed.

Alongside the design work, an enabling works package will be undertaken to allow the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to relocate from the hospital site to an alternative location within Belmullet.

It is anticipated that the preliminary design stage and the relocation of the ambulance service will both be completed by the second quarter of 2027.

Minister Calleary described the announcement as significant news for Belmullet and North Mayo, saying he had been calling for progress on the project for a considerable time.

“This is fantastic news for Belmullet and for North Mayo and something that I have been calling for a long time,” he said.

He also thanked Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for visiting Belmullet Hospital yesterday (Thursday, November 12), describing her visit as the first by a Minister for Health in many years.

Senator Mark Duffy also welcomed confirmation of the design team’s appointment, saying it represented progress towards delivering modern residential care and specialised dementia support for the local community.

“This is very welcome progress for Belmullet and the wider Erris area,” he said. “Local people deserve modern facilities that allow them to remain close to their communities, and this project will help make that a reality.”

The appointed team comprises Taylor McCarney Architects as architect; TetraTech as building services engineer; Garland as civil and structural engineer; and Tom McNamara & Partners as quantity surveyor.

AtkinRéalis has been appointed as PSDP, with Maurice Johnson & Partners providing fire safety consultancy and Varming acting as energy-efficient design consultant. AECOM will serve as employer’s representative, while Assigned has been appointed as assigned certifier.

“The appointment of a strong, experienced design team marks a clear step forward in delivering a modern Community Nursing Unit that will provide high-quality, person-centred care for older people, including specialised dementia support,” Senator Duffy said.

The project is intended to strengthen residential and dementia care provision for older people in Belmullet and the wider North Mayo area.