"A Slap In The Face" - Offaly Councillor On HSE Hospice Foundation Debt

Edenderry's Fergus McDonnell says he's been told the HSE owes Offaly Hospice Committee over €300k.

A Midlands Hospice Committee is owed over €300,000 by the HSE, according to an Offaly Councillor.

Edenderry rep Fergus McDonnell says senior management in the Health Service promised to repay Offaly Hospice Committee €312,000 spent developing a proposal to construct a hospice for Offaly on the grounds of Tullamore Hospital.

Arden Lane will now be the location of a palliative care facility for the entire midlands region.

The Independent Councillor says the local authority is in touch with the HSE and a meeting on the issue scheduled for Thursday has been deferred.

He says the committee should have been given more respect:

In a statement to Midlands 103 a HSE spokesperson is confirming a meeting is expected to take place soon:

Full statement:

The HSE acknowledges and recognises the significant work undertaken by Offaly Hospice in progressing the Midland Hospice project, as well as the valued contribution of voluntary and community groups across the Midlands region. Plus, the Irish Hospice Foundation.

The HSE met with Offaly Hospice on 15 November 2025 and subsequently wrote to the organisation on 24 December 2025, setting out the matters discussed and proposed next steps.

A further meeting had been scheduled for Thursday 19th to progress and resolve the outstanding issues; however, this had to be postponed due to a diary conflict. The HSE is hopeful that this meeting will be rescheduled for early next week so that the matter can be progressed and brought to resolution.

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