'Transformative step' as planning approved for hospice development for Longford, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath

A major milestone has been reached in the decades-long campaign to build an inpatient unit in the Midlands that can provide hospice care to people in Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

The HSE has announced that Offaly County Council has officially approved planning permission for a 20-bed Midlands Specialist Palliative Care Unit in Tullamore.

In a statement the HSE says the decision to give the green light to the Arden Lane site marks a "transformative step" in delivering "vital" hospice services to the four Midlands counties.

It adds that this decision ensures that the long-awaited hospice facility will address a critical gap in specialist inpatient palliative care for Laois, Offaly, Longford, and Westmeath.

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The statement added that the Government has committed €24 million in capital funding to support the development of this facility aimed at delivering "high-quality end-of-life care".

The HSE adds that the project will provide "compassionate, specialist care closer to home for families" across the Midlands.

The new hospice will include:

• 20 inpatient beds
• Day therapy unit
• Education centre
• Modern car parking and EV charging facilities

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Minister for Health, welcomed the approval of planning.

"This is an important milestone in delivering on the Government’s €24 million capital commitment. I am so grateful to all involved, many of whom I met when I visited in April of last year.

"We will continue to invest in palliative care services to ensure equitable access and the highest standards of care for people and families across Ireland,” she said.

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Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer (REO), HSE Dublin and Midlands, looked forward to what it will mean for people.

“This planning approval is a landmark moment for healthcare in the Midlands. This hospice will ensure that people with life-limiting illnesses receive the dignity, comfort, and specialist care they deserve. We are grateful to all who have worked tirelessly to make this happen,” she said.

The HSE's statement said the granting of planning permission represents an achievement that reflects years of advocacy and collaboration among local hospice groups and community initiatives.

Ms Killeen White acknowledged this. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Image of what the Hospice will look like when completed.

"We acknowledge the five Hospice Groups in the region—Laois Hospice, Longford Hospice, North Westmeath Hospice, Offaly Hospice, and South Westmeath Hospice—whose volunteers have fundraised tirelessly for palliative care initiatives. Innovative campaigns such as Hooves-4-Hospice, led by the Lions Club, and the Irish Hospice Foundation’s advocacy and research have been pivotal in keeping this project at the forefront of healthcare priorities," she said.

Joseph Ruane, Head of Primary Care HSE Midlands, said the Midlands has long been one of the only regions in Ireland without a specialist inpatient palliative care unit.

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"This development will close a critical gap in service provision, enhance quality of life for patients and families, and strengthen community-based and inpatient palliative care. I would like to thank and acknowledge the work and support of successive Ministers of Health, all hospice and associated groups throughout the Midlands and nationally and our locally elected representatives (past and present) who have been so steadfastly supportive of this development over many years. It truly is a significant milestone for this project and for the Midlands population we serve,” he said.

The grant of planning follows on from a unanimous decision in late 2025 by Offaly County Councillors to rezone the land on Arden Lane to allow the development take place.

The selection of the Arden Lane site was disputed by one group of hospice campaigners in Offaly who backed the Wellwood Health Campus that is located on the Tullamore bypass. The Wellwood site was offered by the Flanagan brothers. It was originally earmarked for a private hospital. 

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