Planning granted for respite centre for sick children in Kerry

A Kerry-based charity is to build a €10m respite care centre for sick children near Tralee after winning a four-year battle for planning permission for the facility.

An Bord Pleanála has approved plans by the Saoirse Foundation for the building at Curragraigue in Blennerville. It upheld the decision of Kerry County Council to grant planning permission for the 22-unit residential centre to care for children with rare, genetic disorders, despite opposition from a number of parties, including a local GAA club.

The charity was established by Tony and Mary Heffernan, from Castlemaine, whose two children, Saoirse and Liam, died of the incurable, degenerative Batten disease, in 2011 and 2014, respectively, both aged five.