Big step forward as Midlands Hospice gets green light from Council

A MOTION for a material contravention of the Offaly County Development Plan for a much-needed and long-awaited Hospice for the Midlands was passed by Offaly County Council during their monthly meeting on Monday afternoon.
The motion for the “material contravention” of the county's Development Plan 2021 to 2027, “in respect of the Midlands Specialist Palliative Care Unit”, was brought to the Councillors by Director of Services Andrew Murray.
Addressing the chamber, the leader of the Fianna Fáil grouping, Cllr Peter Ormond, formally put forward a proposal that they should amend the County Development Plan to allow the building of the hospice.
At least 75% of the councillors needed to vote for the proposal in order for it to be passed. The 19 Councillors unanimously voted for Cllr Ormond's proposal, therefore giving their backing to the building of the 20 bed palliative care facility on a greenfield site on Arden Lane Tullamore. The Hospice will also have ancillary services, including a Day Therapy Unit and an education centre.
The project's location has been the subject of much debate over recent months, with some campaigners advocating for the development to be located at the Wellwood Health Campus in Tullamore, with the HSE selecting the Arden Lane site.
Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy welcomed the outcome of the vote, pointing out that democracy had spoken. He hoped this meant the issue had been put to bed once and for all and nothing now would prevent the building of this very important facility for the people of the Midlands.
Cllr Neil Feighery agreed, adding that he hoped the meeting's unanimous vote would be the final hurdle for the hospice project. “It has been a challenging route to get this far,” he remarked, “and I hope nothing else will now stand in the way of getting the hospice built and it won't be long before the bricks and mortar stage will start. The fact the Midlands doesn't have this facility is a big gap.”
The leader of the Fine Gael grouping, Cllr Liam Quinn said the Fine Gael members were happy to second Cllr Ormond's proposal. “Sadly, most of us will need a facility such as this hospice at some stage in our lives, that's just the reality. I hope our vote today will allow this badly needed project to go ahead. This Level 3 specialist palliative care inpatient unit will serve the counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford, and Westmeath. It will be a significant milestone as the Midlands is currently the only region in Ireland without an in-patient hospice facility. It will therefore be a hugely significant facility to have.”
Cllr Declan Harvey pointed out that the members of the Council's Fianna Fáil grouping have been strongly supportive of the new Hospice for a long time. He said that before Deputy Barry Cowen became an MEP he had “sourced €24 million for this project.”
A number of the Councillors praised the voluntary groups who have campaigned for a palliative care unit, including Offaly Hospice, Tullamore Lions Club and the Hooves4Hospice campaign.
Cllr Seán Maher said the various submissions which the Council received “were well thought out and we had a good discussion about them. We listened carefully to people working at the coalface and therefore came to the conclusion that Arden Lane would be the best location.” Cllr Aoife Masterson agreed.
Cllr Seán O'Brien said the Hooves4Hospice had been “a spectacular success. Without the Hooves4Hospice campaign we wouldn't be at this juncture today.” He said the next stage would be the Part 8 planning process and public consultation. He said they will “have to work closely with the Pitch & Putt club to ensure their needs are met.” He also wondered if the erection of a sound barrier at nearby Condron Concrete would be needed.
Cllr Fergus McDonnell said this was “a landmark day for the wider region. Arden Lane is the right setting; it's a rural and urban setting, if that makes sense.”
Cllr Noel Cribbin agreed. “It's a beautiful setting and a fabulous plan. A lot of fundraising was done in Edenderry for this facility.”
Cllr Eleanor Clendennen said the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill is fully behind the new development.
A suitability matrix score was conducted by the HSE in December 2023 to determine which site was a better fit between Arden Lane and Wellwood Health Park. The matrix used a number of factors which awarded Arden Lane with a site suitability score of 84.7, bettering Wellwood's 81.
However, in October 2025 Offaly Hospice Foundation submitted a new objection to the planning application of the Midlands Regional Hospice. In its objection Offaly Hospice Foundation suggested that a revised planning application would be the best way forward in the interests of the public and the process itself. The Foundation said Arden Lane is not the only possible site for the hospice and there are available areas in Wellwood as well as on the grounds of the Midlands Regional Hospital. The Foundation said that in contrast to Arden Lane, "both sites are not encumbered by planning issues of zoning, access or services and are still available".

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