The HSE has got the go-ahead from Cork County Council to build a new residential secure childcare unit within the St Stephen’s Hospital complex in Glanmire.

Two new household units are to be constructed each with a capacity for four residents along with one emergency bed. The unit will also include clinical, meeting and ancillary facilities for residents and staff, an administrative building, a secure garage, an education centre building, basketball court, staff car parking and separate visitor car parking.

The provision of such services for children has been planned for some time. Local Labour councillor Noel Costello this week welcomed the news saying it was obviously needed and as a small, efficient unit, it would slot in well with existing services.

An eight-bed inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric unit which opened in 2009 at the St Stephen’s hospital complex as an interim measure later closed when a 20 bed unit was constructed in Blackrock, Cork and services transferred there.