HSE agrees to return €312,000 to Offaly Hospice
The Midlands Hospice is a planned 20-bed Level 3 Specialist Palliative Care Unit located on Arden Lane, Tullamore.
THE HSE has agreed to return €312,000 to Offaly Hospice, the May monthly meeting of Offaly County Council was told. Some weeks ago County Councillors in Offaly were asked to intervene in a financial dispute between the Offaly Hospice committee and the HSE. It was recently claimed that these Councillors “did nothing.”
Last week Independent Ireland Councillor Fergus McDonnell said the Councillors in the government parties had dragged their feet and done nothing. “In my view,” he told the media, “the Councillors didn't highlight this issue for fear of embarrassing their party's Ministers in government. That was entirely regrettable.”
The Edenderry Councillor also said last week that he had been told the HSE will be returning the €312,000 to Offaly Hospice Committee in the near future.
The money was spent on architect fees for an early proposal for a hospice in the county.
Last month it was reported that Offaly County Council was calling on the Minister for Health to intervene to restore the €312,000 which was raised by the public for a new hospice facility in Offaly. It was pointed out that the Offaly Hospice committee was owed the money from the Health Service Executive after the money was spent on proposals to construct a hospice for Offaly on the grounds of Tullamore Hospital. The project did not progress and planning permission was subsequently granted for a Midlands Hospice on a site at Arden Lane in Tullamore.
Cllr McDonnell pointed out a number of weeks ago that members of Offaly Hospice had been told that the HSE is “under no obligation to repay any amount of the money due.” He said this was particularly disappointing because he had seen the minutes of a meeting which took place on April 17, 2023 between senior members of the HSE and the hospice, where it was clear that an agreement was made to repay the sum of money. “I think words like integrity, sincerity, accountability, these are traits that every one of us expects to have front and centre when we're having dealings with anybody, but particularly when it's an arm of the State,” he said.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Peter Ormond agreed with Cllr McDonnell: “I think it's only proper and right that this money would be returned to Offaly Hospice. Offaly hospice set out a number of years ago to fundraise for a midlands hospice. They have done it in good faith, they engaged with architects, they engaged with legal professions and they did everything to the best of their ability in terms of delivering the hospice for the midlands.”
During the May meeting of the Council in Kilcormac on Monday afternoon Cllr Claire Murray of Fianna Fáil said the news was positive. She said the HSE had stated they were in a meeting recently with Offaly Hospice and it had been a positive meeting, in terms of the HSE “paying the money that is owed to Offaly Hospice.”
Cllr McDonnell agreed that it was a successful meeting and “I was glad to hear that a commitment had been made to reimburse the funding, however it's important to say as well that that reimbursement hasn't yet happened.” He briefly discussed his critical remarks about the Councillors in the government parties. “What was said to me was that members of Offaly County Council were approached to do something about the issue and they did nothing.”
Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach, remarked that this had now become a positive story. “We should put this to bed now. There's been a positive outcome and we are at the point of the HSE reimbursing the money.” Cllr Peter Ormond said the Fianna Fáil Councillors were always in full support of Cllr McDonnell. “I don't agree with this suggestion we dragged our feet on the matter. We all agreed that the Offaly Hospice committee spent this money in good faith and now need it back; and it will be put to good use. It will be put into Hospice care, into the good work that they do.”
Cllr Neil Feighery said he fully concurred with Cllr Ormond. “We all supported this from the get-go. Now the reimbursed money will be spent on much needed hospice care across the county.”
Cllr Aoife Masterson commented that she had “met with Offaly Hospice on many occasions and I have always fully supported their wonderful and very important work. Until the new Hospice is built then Offaly Hospice in its current guise will be needed and this €312,000 will be needed for their excellent work.”
The Midlands Hospice is a planned 20-bed Level 3 Specialist Palliative Care Unit located on Arden Lane, Tullamore. Backed by a €24 million government commitment, it will serve patients across Laois, Offaly, Longford, and Westmeath, while expanding existing homecare and satellite services in those areas.