Two Irish farmers have generously donated land to the Irish Government for the construction of a brand new children's hospital, reports the Irish Independent.

Brothers, Frank and Fergus Connon who inherited a 200-acre site from their grandfather are offering part of their lands free to the State as an alternative location for the national children's hospital.

The north Dublin site is the latest on offer as an alternative to building the hospital in the Mater Hospital campus in north inner city Dublin. The application to build on the Mater site was rejected by An Bord Pleanala for the 16-storey hospital on the grounds of height and scale. In a submission to Health Minister James Reilly, the brothers said: "In terms of space, accessibility, location and cost the site is very attractive. A hospital on this site could be built in less than 36 months with planning approval. It will be highly competitive to develop since work on a greenfield site is much simpler than complex works in a restricted site."

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The benefit to the State is clear, with this newly offered site fitting the need for co-location with an adult hospital as set out in the McKinsey report. Situated opposite Ikea on the M50 and nestled between major motorways, it would provide easy access for patients coming from outside Dublin and could be developed at a "fraction of the cost" of the Mater site.

The brothers themselves will hold on to a significant portion of the land and its value would soar as a result.

(HMc/GK)