We need to get on with building hospice : TD tells Oireachtas

Fianna Fáil TD Tony McCormack has called for the proposed hospice in Tullamore to move forward without further delay, telling Department of Health officials that the Midlands has already waited long enough for a dedicated hospice facility.

Deputy McCormack raised the project at the Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery on Wednesday, where he questioned officials about the timeline for progressing the development at Arden Lane in Tullamore.

He said the project had already gone through a lengthy planning process and questioned why other work required to advance the hospice had not been progressed in parallel.

“The cheapest time to build is yesterday. The next cheapest time is today, not in five years’ time,” Deputy McCormack told the Committee.

“We should be well ahead of this because we knew this was going to happen. We have gone through the planning process, which has taken long enough. My question is why wasn’t this work happening in parallel so that we could move ahead straight away, or shortly after planning permission was secured?”

During the exchange, Department officials confirmed that there is a capital allocation for the hospice at Arden Lane and reiterated the Government and Department of Health’s commitment to the project.

Officials said the project remains a “work in progress”, is going through the detailed design process and is being prepared to go to tender.

Deputy McCormack said the need for the facility must remain at the centre of the process.

“We haven’t got a hospice in the Midlands. This is something that is required for the people of the region,” he said.

“I understand that the Department has to make sure the design is right and that the project is delivered efficiently, but we have been waiting a long time for this. At this stage, we need to get on with building it.”

Deputy McCormack said he welcomed the confirmation that the Government commitment remains in place and that an allocation continues to exist for the project, but said his focus is now firmly on seeing construction begin.

“Planning permission has been secured and the Department has confirmed its commitment. The important thing now is to maintain momentum, get through detailed design, get the project to tender and ultimately get construction underway.

“Every year we wait is another year without a dedicated hospice for families in the Midlands. The cheapest time to build it was yesterday. The next cheapest time is today. Let’s get it done.”