Possible April / May opening for Birr Primary Care Centre

WORK is well advanced on the new Birr Primary Care Centre and some are saying that it's possible that the magnificent new facility might open as early as this April or May.
However, other locals are sceptical about this date, with one local Councillor telling The Midland Tribune that from what he has seen the opening date could be closer to Christmas. "In fact,” he remarked, “it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't ready to open until Summer 2027. The Contractor to finish the Southern Distributor Road running from the Tesco roundabout to Syngefield, passing in front of the PCC, has not been appointed yet." The Southern Distributor will support future residential and commercial developments. It will also improve traffic mobility across Birr.
Local Councillor Seán Maher told the Tribune he was recently given a tour of the large premises and was very impressed by what he saw. "There is space for up to 11 GPs, a pharmacy and a number of ambulances. It will be very positive for the area."
Deputy John Clendennen said the new PCC is due to open in the first half of this year “and will allow for the consolidation of primary care and mental health services under one roof, alongside an extensive GP practice. Modern primary care centres are essential for delivering services closer to home, reducing pressure on hospitals and improving patient outcomes.”

Offaly County Council granted planning permission to BPI Investments, a Portarlington-based company, in March 2023 for the construction of the medical facility on its site at the rear of the Outdoor Education Centre on Roscrea Road. The three-storey development spanning 4,060 square metres, makes provision for 807 square metres of GP surgery space, a pharmacy spanning 138 square metres and two consulting rooms totalling 34 square metres. A two-storey ambulance Base with single storey garage will also form part of the new development, along with 157 car-parking spaces, six motorcycle parking spaces, 50 bicycle spaces, 16 electrical charge points and traffic control barriers for employee parking.
The plan to build a PCC in Birr was first mooted more than a decade ago and was beset by difficulties during the years following, primarily in relation to finding a suitable site to build on. Two sites, at Birr Rugby Club and a Council-owned site at the Rectory Field, were rejected, before the site on Roscrea road known as ‘The Brothers Field’ was earmarked for the development. The full Brothers Field site encompasses 19 acres, but the Primary Care Centre is to be built on 3.5 acres of the site. (Below is a drone shot of the Southern Distributor Road under construction).

Last week Deputy Carol Nolan voiced her serious concerns regarding the absence of confirmed staffing allocations for primary care services in Offaly, particularly in light of the upcoming opening of the new Birr Primary Care Centre. In response to Deputy Nolan the HSE acknowledged ongoing “challenges” in the county. The HSE said that while 200 posts have been allocated nationally for Primary Care in 2026, confirmation of the specific allocation for the HSE Dublin and Midlands region is still pending. Additionally, the HSE has sought further posts through the National Service Plan and has allocated 12 posts to the Integrated Healthcare Area Midlands, including positions to address vacancies in Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy for children’s services in Offaly and Laois.
Deputy Nolan pointed out that the Birr Primary Care Centre is expected to become operational in the coming months, representing a significant investment in local healthcare infrastructure, “but the lack of any confirmed staff allocation even at this late date can only give rise to serious concern. While I welcome the progress on the Birr Primary Care Centre, which I have been advocating for since 2021, the lack of confirmed staffing allocations for Offaly is deeply worrying. With the centre due to open imminently, we must question whether this delay in allocations will lead to postponements in its operational timeline or result in insufficient staffing levels to meet community needs. The HSE's ongoing recruitment and retention challenges exacerbate these concerns, and I urge the Minister for Health and the HSE to prioritise and expedite these allocations to ensure the centre can deliver the high-quality care our residents deserve from day one."
Deputy Nolan said she remains committed to continuing her engagement with HSE officials and the Minister to secure the necessary resources for Offaly's primary care services.

READ NEXT: Significant investment into 'essential' primary care infrastructure in Offaly welcomed