Council told of fears over Midlands Hospice delays

Fears have been expressed that the proposed Midlands Hospice may face significant delays if planning permission is not granted.

Offaly County Council has recently indicated its intention to materially contravene its county development plan to facilitate planning permission for the hospice project at Arden Lane in Tullamore.

A decision to materially contravene the development plan lies with the members of Offaly County Council, who are expected to meet later in December in order to decide on the issue.

The HSE is seeking permission to develop a new hospice catering for 20 inpatient beds at Arden Lane, Tullamore, complete with ancillary services, including a Day Therapy Unit and an education centre.

Michael Cushen, who recently retired as a consultant in palliative medicine for the Midlands, in a submission, said he wanted to “strongly advocate for the development of a hospice on Arden Lane”.

Cushen has worked in specialist palliative care for over 30 years, including over 12 years as medical director of a hospice in the UK, and over 17 years as consultant in palliative medicine in Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, based at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

In a submission on the proposed material contravention, Cushen said he was very concerned that if planning for the Arden Lane site is refused, it would result in “another huge delay in the building of this much needed facility for the patients of the Midlands”.

“All the plans are based on the Arden Lane site geography and the architects would have to go back virtually to scratch to plan for another site, which, in my opinion, is a less favourable one”.

He estimated it would take at least another 12-18 months before planning for a different site would be approved. He added he felt “the people of the Midlands have waited long enough for this hospice”.

He said that whilst he was involved in the development of plans for the hospice from the outset, since his retirement in April 2025 he has not been directly involved.

In another submission, Dr Pat Gallagher, Collins Lane, also echoed these concerns. He said: “Should the current proposal not proceed, Offaly and the Midlands could well wait for several more years for another proposal to be prepared, secure public capital funding, receive Government approval, and proceed to design, planning, tender and construction.”

He added: “There is no guarantee in such a scenario that Tullamore would be the location, e.g, if viable proposals emerged from elsewhere in the region.”

In another submission as part of the public consultation process on the proposed material contravention, Offaly Hospice Foundation Ltd reiterated its view that “the proposed development does not deserve, in terms of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the support of the elected members, or the executive, in this instance”.

It contended that alternative sites in Wellwood Health Park and on the grounds of Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore “are not encumbered by planning issues around zoning, access, or services and are still available for immediate consideration”.

Thomas J. Martin, in a letter addressed to Offaly County Council chief executive Anna Marie Delaney, called for an immediate halting of progression of the planning application and the associated material contravention process.

Martin said he is one of the trustees of Tullamore Pitch and Putt Club, whose lands, he said, are “materially affected” by the development. He said he was writing in a personal capacity. His letter headed ‘Offaly County Council Submission With Reference To Material Contravention of Development Plan To Facilitate Planning’ is included in the planning file.

He cited what he said were a series of breaches of planning procedures regarding the application.

He stated that he supports the “necessity and community value” of a hospice for the midlands, but that the application “must be pursued lawfully, transparently and sustainably on a site that is properly zoned, accessible and deliverable”.

“The current application fails on every procedural and substantive level. To advance it further would not only undermine public confidence but would also expose the council to serious reputation and legal risk," he added.

Submissions on the material contravention proposal remain open until Wednesday next, December 3.