PUNCH Consulting were appointed in 2012 by the HSE as civil, structural and traffic engineers for the development of the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) Hospital at St Ita’s Hospital Complex, Portrane, Co.Dublin. The NFMHS Hospital is the main centre in the state that provides psychiatric treatment in conditions of high and medium security, including acute, medium and longer term psychiatric care.

The overall St. Ita’s Hospital complex comprises approximately 112 hectares (ha), and the proposed NFMHS Hospital is located in the western portion of the overall St. Ita’s Hospital complex and will occupy approximately 13 ha.

The 170 bedroom NFMHS Hospital consists of a number of shared facilities namely: the 130 bedroom National Forensic Hospital as well as a 10 bedroom Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit and a 30 bedroom Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit, all co-located within one campus. The NFMHS Hospital is housed in 8 no. single storey buildings and 1 no. two storey building, as well as the provision of ancillary transformers and switchrooms, energy buildings, maintenance and engineering buildings and horticulture buildings, totalling approx. 25,324m2 gross floor space, and all associated site works, landscaping and lighting.

The project received a grant of planning via the SID planning process in June 2015, and work is expected to commence on site in 2016.