Regional hospice a step closer after OCC vote
The long-awaited midlands regional hospice moved a significant step closer after councillors voted unanimously to approve a material contravention of their county development plan to allow the project proceed.
All 19 elected members of Offaly County Council voted in favour of the proposal, clearing the way for the construction of a 20-bed hospice on a greenfield site at Arden Lane, Tullamore.
Reacting to the decision, Veronica Larkin of the North Westmeath Hospice said the vote was "the best Christmas present you could ask for".
"It is a major step forward and it was great to see all 19 councillors vote in favour of it," she told the Westmeath Examiner.
Ms Larkin said it had taken almost 20 years to reach this stage, and extensive work had been carried out by the five hospice groups involved in the project: North Westmeath Hospice, South Westmeath Hospice, and the hospice groups from Offaly, Laois and Longford.
The planned facility will comprise 20 bedrooms, all located on the ground floor.
Two years ago, the government announced a €20 million grant towards the construction of the hospice. It is anticipated that the participating hospice groups will make significant contributions towards the fit-out and equipping of the building.
While the HSE-recommended site has now been approved by councillors, Ms Larkin acknowledged that there remains a possibility the decision could be referred to An Bord Pleanála for determination.
She stressed that hospice beds will be allocated on the basis of clinical need rather than on a county-by-county quota.
"We are absolutely over the moon," she said, speaking on behalf of herself and Theresa Colentine, chairperson of the Westmeath Hospice Executive Committee. Both women are members of the joint group working to establish the midlands hospice.
Ms Larkin said the group was deeply grateful for the consistent support it has received from local politicians over the years, as well as the current backing of Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers.
She also paid tribute to the public for their ongoing generosity and support of hospice services.
She confirmed that the existing home palliative care service will continue once the hospice is built and is likely to be further developed, working alongside the new inpatient facility.
The decision to approve the material contravention was taken at last week’s meeting of Offaly County Council. Cllr Peter Ormond proposed the motion, while Cllr John Leahy said the vote showed that "democracy had spoken".
He said he sincerely hoped the decision would put the issue to bed once and for all and that nothing would now impede the delivery of a much-needed hospice facility for the people of the midlands.