Health Board will charge council ‘top market rate’ for land

A CASH-STRAPPED council has been warned not to expect land for free — or even at a reasonable price — from the Southern Health Board.

The escalating cost of land in Killarney is making it almost impossible for the local town council and Kerry County Council to compete with developers on the open market.

The councils are now seeking land from the SHB. Councillor Tom Fleming, who is also an SHB member, said they needed extra land at St Finan’s Hospital, Killarney, for housing. The board is expected to put the hospital and adjoining lands up for sale shortly.