Important HSE buildings in Birr might be put on open market

THERE'S a possibility that two important buildings in Birr, currently belonging to the HSE, might be put on the open market following the opening of the new Primary Care Centre in the town.
Deputy John Clendennen recently said the new PCC is due to open in the first half of this year, a project which “will allow for the consolidation of primary care and mental health services under one roof.”
However, this leaves question marks over the Old Hospital site in Birr, also known as the St Brendan's District Hospital site.
Last April, Joe Ruane, the HSE's Midlands Area Manager, said the Old (District) Hospital building itself is still in the ownership of the HSE. Mr Ruane remarked that it will probably change ownership in 2027 or 2028, at which stage the County Council might take over the building.
However, The Midland Tribune this week learned from a local Councillor that there is talk now of the building being handed over to the OPW, who will then put it on the open market.
The Councillor told the Tribune it will probably be a similar story for the Mental Health facility on Wilmer Road (beside the library).
The Old District Hospital building is part of a number of buildings on the general site, located at the end of John's Terrace. The other buildings house a Rehabilitation Counselling service; a Dental Clinic; St Anne's and an Alzheimers service.
The ambulance service (NAS) for the town and south Offaly area is located on the site and will be moving to the new Primary Care Centre (PCC) when the currently ongoing building work of the PCC is complete.
The expected completion date for the Primary Care Centre is the summer of 2026, but some are saying it might be the end of 2026 or even as late as summer 2027. It had previously been stated that the PCC would open to the general public in 2024 but, as so often with major infrastructural projects, it's taking considerably longer than expected.
Midoc was previously housed in the Old District Hospital Building. When Midoc closed in 2018 there was a very strong reaction against the closure and a huge number of people turned out for a public meeting, expressing their objection at the loss of an essential service. The powers that be paid no heed.
There was also talk that when the ambulance service vacates the site, the Order of Malta might move in in their place, but this is not certain now.

It's been pointed out over the last few years that the Old District Hospital building and the Mental Health facility have a significant amount of empty, unused space. About half of the Mental Health facility is not being used. The Mental Health facility is in fact a very large area which could be used in a purposeful and good way, but it's going to waste. A few years ago former Cllr John Carroll told a meeting that he would “question some of the HSE's use of its property.”
The emptiness of the District Hospital is also problematic, and it will become emptier when its ambulance service moves.
There are 16 staff in the Wilmer Road Mental Health facility. The services provided in the facility include a Community Mental Health Clinic/Day Hospital/and Day Service. It's serving a population area of 38,000 people. All of the 16 staff members and the services will move to the new Birr Primary Care Centre when it opens.
Joe Ruane last April told a Council meeting that the Alzheimer's and St Anne's services will be “remaining in the St Brendan's District Hospital area and will not move to the new Primary Care Centre when it opens.”
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is based in the Old Day Care Centre beside the Old Hospital building.
There's been a hospital at the John's Terrace site for several decades. Records show that in 1955 tenders were invited by Offaly County Council for an extension of the premises which would be: “An Extension scheme comprising extension of existing hospital, improved nursing accommodation, maternity unit, town clinic.”
The extension was formally opened in Spring 1959. The contractor was M. Loughnane & Sons, Birr, and the construction cost was £45,000.
Part of the Mental Health facility (below) in the old convent site on Wilmer Road has been unused since the late 1970s. The Gaelscoil had hoped to move into the building in 2015 but in January 2024 it moved instead into its present home, a modular building constructed on a greenfield site on Tullamore Road.

A couple of years ago Cllr John Carroll said the District Hospital and the former Day Care Centre beside John's Terrace “is a significant footprint in the town with a significant amount of physical structures. It's in the heart of Birr, some of it is empty, and everyone should think hard about what to do with the empty sections.” This point by the former Crinkle Councillor remains relevant today.

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