Offaly Councillor wants Minister for Health to investigate decision behind proposed Midlands Hospice Site
‘What is happening today is control and censorship....all I am seeking is clarity.’
OFFALY County Councillor Fergus McDonnell has told the Tribune that he wants the Minister for Health to carry out an investigation into the decision making process behind choosing the location for the proposed Midlands Regional Hospice.
Cllr McDonnell wanted to put a motion to the July monthly meeting of Offaly County Council in Áras an Chontae on Monday afternoon but was told that he wouldn't be allowed to do this.
He subsequently sent the proposed motion to the Tribune and it stated, “That Offaly County Council request the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeil authorise and oversee a full investigation, publishing all material and considerations, surrounding the decision to abandon the original agreed site adjacent to Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore for the new Midlands Regional Hospice. Such an investigation should include full disclosure of all records, correspondence, and minutes of meetings between HSE personnel, third parties and Tullamore Lions Club clearly stating the decision to set aside the original agreed site in favour of the Arden Lane site.”
Three members of Offaly Hospice were in the Council Chamber on Monday afternoon in support of Cllr McDonnell. They were Professor Humphrey O'Connor, Edward Delahunt and Marie Leahy.
The meeting was told that the Council's Corporate Policy Group (CPG) had discussed, in advance of Monday's meeting, Cllr McDonnell's proposed motion and had decided that it should not be put to the County Council meeting. In light of that, Cllr McDonnell told the County Council meeting, “what is the Corporate Policy Group afraid of? The three members of Offaly Hospice in the Chamber today are also wondering what the CPG is afraid of.”
Cllr Declan Harvey, Cathaoirleach, told Cllr McDonnell that his proposed motion was not on the Council's agenda to discuss, therefore it was inappropriate to discuss it any more.
Cllr John Leahy agreed. “The Corporate Policy Group decided that it would not be appropriate for the County Council to discuss this,” said Cllr Leahy. “I think this is about Cllr McDonnell seeking headlines and he has no doubt achieved that by doing this today.”
“I reject that,” said Cllr McDonnell. “What is happening today is control and censorship, when all I am seeking is clarity.”
A member of the Council Executive told Cllr McDonnell that the CPG believes this is a matter for the HSE and not for the County Council.
Cllr McDonnell afterwards told the Tribune that while the HSE has agreed to pay the €312,000 owed to Offaly Hospice, “no part of that sum has been paid yet.” The €312,000 is related to historical architect fees. This money was originally spent developing early plans for a facility at Tullamore Hospital, before the new site for the Midlands Hospice was selected on Arden Lane.
Also speaking to the Tribune, Cllr Shane Murray pointed out that it would seem that the relations between the HSE and Offaly Hospice “have been strained lately. I do hope for all of us that we can get them back on track. Offaly Hospice does fantastic work and should get the recognition they deserve for doing so. But squabbling with the HSE, Hooves 4 Hospice, the Lions Club, the Health Minister, other midlands Hospice groups, and now an attempt at us, is very regrettable.
“Perhaps we Councillors can address the members of Offaly Hospice during their next AGM and discuss the issue further?
“We Councillors were put under pressure to vote 'No' to the only option in front of us for the new, proposed Midlands Regional Hospice, which will be in Arden Lane. In fact, we were given no option, just a yes or no to the Arden Lane site. And all 19 Councillors voted yes to the Hospice site on Arden Lane.
“We need a Midlands Regional Hospice in Tullamore to serve the Midlands counties of Offaly, Laois, Westmeath and Longford, as soon as possible. Now let's get together and get this done!”