Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a €250m private hospital in Limerick.

Limerick County Council has given the plans, made by the Beacon Medical Group, the green light.

It is expected 400 hundred jobs will created as a result of the new 183 bed facility, based on the grounds of the existing Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle.

The private hospital, which will also include six operating theatres, will be built by Beacon, with work due to commence in September. This work is expected to stretch over two years.

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The eventual facility will be able to accommodate over 9,000 inpatients and 40,000 outpatient every year,

Beacon's Medical Director Prof Mark Redmond, speaking after the council’s announcement, said: "We are extremely pleased to have received notification of the decision to grant planning for this proposed hospital and believe that it will bring significant benefits to the local community."

The new hospital will be located adjacent to the existing hospital building and will be seven stories high incorporating over 25,000 metres feet in floorspace.

Beacon Medical Group expects the hospital to open its doors by early 2011.

(PR)