A €100 million healthcare park encompassing a private hospital, hospice and convalescent home has been proposed for Tullamore, Co Offaly.
The healthcare park, the first of its kind in Ireland, will create 1,500 jobs in its private hospital, creche, primary care centre, nursing home, retirement village and convalescent centre.
An added component is a centre for patients requiring specialised forms of care.
John Flanagan Developments Ltd, the private company behind the proposal, has acquired 14 acres adjacent to the new regional hospital in Tullamore and intends to buy six additional acres.
A spokesman for the company said last night that, subject to planning permission, construction would begin towards the end of 2007.
The first phase of the healthcare park should be completed by 2009, he said.
"It is already very common in the US, where they operate similar to a business park and all facilities are located on one site."
Dominic Doheny of John Flanagan Developments Ltd said that if it achieved its potential, the healthcare park would lead to Tullamore "becoming a leading regional location for the establishment of a full range of health-related services".
"A healthcare park enables medical practice, education facilities and research and development to be developed in the one location. It attracts investment, facilitates the development of educational opportunities and leads to higher standards of healthcare," Mr Doheny said.