Offaly Hospice Foundation deny 'blocking' Midlands Regional Hospice as decision nears

Offaly Hospice Foundation have released a statement denying they are 'blocking' or 'refusing' a regional hospice for four Midland counties as the dispute over the planned site for the facility continues. 

The foundation made the statement as they believe that "in recent weeks, public commentary may have created uncertainty about the current role of Offaly Hospice."

The construction of the building of the Midlands Hospice has been a point of contention for a number of years in relation to the chosen location of the planned site at Arden Lane in Tullamore. 

The facility will be a 20-bed specialist palliative care unit serving the counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

The proposal for Arden Lane site was introduced in early April 2023 but the Offaly Hospice Foundation believe it isn't a suitable site for the project. 

The final decision of the planning application for the proposed Midlands Regional Hospice site will ultimately be determined by Offaly County Councillors as the application constitutes a material contravention of the Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027. 

Therefore, the decision cannot be made by council planners and will instead be determined by the elected members.

This decision is expected to take place at next meeting of Offaly County Council which will be held on December 15 in Tullamore. 

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Fianna Fáil members on Offaly County Council have indicated in a new press release - issued on Tuesday morning - that they will be supporting Offaly County Council's Planning Department's proposal to grant planning permission for the Midlands Hospice at the chosen site at Arden Lane, Tullamore.

The statement by Fianna Fáil councillors reads: "We expect the proposal to be on the agenda for the December meeting of Offaly County Council on December 15. The application constitutes a material contravention of the Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027."

It also explains that "the proposal put before the councillors if passed by 75% will change the County Development Plan to allow for the proposal to be granted planning permission."

A spokesperson for the Fianna Fáil councillors stated that it is vital that this project be constructed in Offaly to serve the people of the Midlands.

The councillors say "we would like to acknowledge and compliment all the local organisations and volunteers who have raised money for the Midlands Hospice, in particular Offaly Hospice and Hooves4Hospice."

In contrast, the new update provided the Offaly Hospice Foundation reads "since its foundation in 1990, volunteers and donors have fundraised for Offaly Hospice and in that way have helped so many patients and families going through the trauma of life-limiting illness."

They add that "patients in the Midlands badly need a Specialist Hospice and Offaly Hospice has continually highlighted that key deficit in patient care."

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Offaly Hospice Foundation also say they have led the hospice project from the beginning and outlined their impact on proceedings throughout the years. 

The Foundation's statement highlights the timeline of events which states that "in May 2019, we launched the Midlands Hospice Building Fund with €500,000 of donated community funds, working with the HSE, a site on the grounds of the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore was agreed in October 2020".

It continues: "Full architectural plans were completed and agreed on and ready to go to planning by October 2021. In September 2022, Government funding of €20 million was allocated for that site and those plans".

The foundation also reiterates the point in the new release that "had this originally agreed project been allowed to continue, the Midlands Regional Hospice could very likely be built or nearing completion today".

The long-awaited decision on the planning application of the Midlands Regional Hospice is set to be finalised on December 15 at the Offaly County Council meeting.