The 15-bed Wicklow Hospice facility at Magheramore has received the green light to proceed from Wicklow County Council.
Planning permission for the long-awaited Hospice building was announced today (Monday 26th January 2015).
The Wicklow Hospice Foundation is now hoping to have the facility complete and open for the first patients in late 2017.
Wicklow TD Simon Harris said he is very hopeful that HSE funding for the running of the facility will be announced in the coming months.
Harris facilitated a recent meeting with Minister Varadker and Wicklow Hospice Foundation to discuss the plans for the Magheramore Hospice.
Harris says the meeting was very positive and expects a decision on HSE funding for the running of the facility to follow very soon.
“The Minister was very eager to see progress on the delivery of this Hospice Facility. I now look forward to working closely with the Wicklow Hospice Foundation and the local Wicklow community to make this long-awaited facility a reality.”
Wicklow Hospice Foundation says it will be full steam ahead progressing with the building of the facility now that planning is in place.
Dr. Brendan Cuddihy, Chairman Wicklow Hospice Foundation:
“This week six years ago, the Wicklow Hospice Foundation was first set up with the aim of building a much-needed Hospice facility for Wicklow. We are thrilled that all the hard work is now about to pay off. We are indebted to our many supporters, big and small.”
“The people of Wicklow made this happen – they put their hearts and souls into this Magheramore Hospice facility as too many of them had seen close family die in far away acute hospitals and denied access to inpatient specialist hospice care in their own community.”
In 2010, Wicklow Hospice Foundation received the generous donation of the ideal coastal site at Magheramore just outside Wicklow town from the Columban Sisters. Dedicated volunteers worked around the clock and already in excess of €3million has been raised for the building fund.
“The Magheramore site is bounded by mature trees, surrounded by wildlife and bird song. What greater gift could you give to those you love the most as they approach life’s end.”
Kieran McLoughlin, CEO American Ireland Fund:
“This project demonstrates the power of philanthropy supporting a public health objective. The generosity of donors here and in the US has been instrumental and will continue to be so in building the Hospice facility. Philanthropy should be encouraged to help ensure society’s needs are met. The Wicklow Hospice is a splendid example of this and we are proud to be associated with it.”
