Brothers of Charity Services have confirmed they are to develop two sites in Waterford city as they expand their services to people with intellectual disabilities.
It reflects their commitment to intellectually disabled adults.
The organisation has been granted planning permission by Waterford City Council for a change of use from light industrial to training for a building in Newgate Street.
The new training unit earmarked for the city centre site will include ancillary facilities and offices.
The planning application also includes alterations to elevations, the upgrading of existing external signage and the demolition of an existing shed which is adjacent to the city walls.
In a separate development, the Brothers of Charity Services have also received approval from Waterford City Council for the development of six residential units for service users at Lisduggan Lodge on Tycor Road.
The planning permission covers the closure and relocation of the existing entrance to Lisduggan Lodge. Commenting on the developments, Ms Johanna Cooney, director of services for the south-eastern region with the Brothers of Charity Services, said that they provided further evidence of the commitment that exists to developing the range of residential and day services available to adults with intellectual disabilities.
She continued: "We are determined to continue developing the services we are able to offer in Waterford and the south-east. For their part, the Lisduggan Lodge units will house service users who are moving towards lower-dependency community accommodation.
"The development at Newgate Street will allow us to broaden our training programmes and to relocate a group of service users who currently receive day training in an inappropriate former hospital ward on the Belmont Park campus.
"The central location also means that service users who live in various locations around Waterford will no longer have to travel across the river to Belmont each day."