By Sean Moriarty

The future of the former St Finan’s Hospital site is taking small steps towards public occupancy following the announcement of two separate projects this week.

Late last week it was revealed that construction of the town's new 130 bed Community Nursing Unit is set to begin next July and be completed within two years.

It will be built on the western side of the hospital grounds with access via Lewis Road near the entrance to Fitzgerald Stadium.

A second project was also announced this week that will use additional space on the old hospital grounds.

A new pedestrian and cycleway will be built to link the Ballydribbeen housing estate with the town centre.

This is part of a bigger plan to realign the Lewis Road/Bypass junction. A proposed underpass near Bridgefield estate was rejected by local residents who feared anti-social behaviour in the area.

The new walkway will run through the grounds of St Finan’s and allow residents to access the town centre by linking it with one of the new cycleways at Lewis Road.

The pathway was unveiled by Paul Curry of the Kerry National Road Design office at Wednesday’s meeting of Killarney Municipal District.

“The new path will be built slightly to the west of the new hospital and to the east of the old one,” he told the meeting. “It will create a clear approach for pedestrians and cyclists into the town centre and to sports clubs like Legion and Celtic.”

Full details of the plan will revealed in February or March next year.