HOSPICE NEEDS EXTRA MILLION
More fundraising is required before work can start at Magheramore site
THE Wicklow Hospice Foundation needs to raise an additional €1 million before work on a new 15-bed facility in Magheramore can start.
Government changes on capital funding means the foundation has to provide more than half the capital costs first required.
Hospice Chairman Sean Dorgan said: ‘We know that people are getting impatient because nothing is yet visible on site. We share this concern. We had hoped and planned to start the building sooner, but prudence requires that before we start we can see it all the way to completion.’
€3.3 million has already been raised and the Hospice Foundation will be ramping up its fundraising drive to raise another €1 million. The site already has full-planning permission.
WICKLOW Hospice Foundation requires another €1 million before it can start to build on the site at Magheramore.
Chairman Sean Dorgan told the Hospice Foundation AGM yesterday (Tuesday) evening ‘ the sooner we raise the money, the sooner building will start.’
To date €3.3m has been raised by the foundation. The initial fundraising target was €3m. However, the Government changed the policy on capital funding due to the economic recession and now the HSE wants more of the capital cost of hospices to be raised. Only half was required previously.
Speaking to the Wicklow People this week, Mr Dorgan said he is still hopeful that the hospice will go ahead within the next year.
‘You can’t start until you know you can see it all the way through to the end. There’s no point getting halfway and then discovering you don’t have the funds to build any further.
‘We would like to think by this time next year we might be able to start but we appreciate that €1 million is a lot to ask for. At the moment we are more than three quarters of the way there.
‘People have been really generous. Every week there are different fundraisers taking place and volunteers have been tremendous.
‘We understand the reason people are asking “why is it taking them so long?” but we can’t start until we can ensure we have enough money to finish,’ said Mr Dorgan.
A site at Magheramore has been donated by the Columban Sisters and full planning permission for the development has already been received. The hospice will consist of 15 rooms rather than the initial 12 included in plans.
The facility will also be the hub of palliative care services for County Wicklow, which will go on to cover seven day care spots rather that than the current five.
Agreement has been reached with Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, who will operate the Hospice when it is built. The Department of Health and the HSE will meet the annual running costs of €3m.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said that the project was very close to his heart. ‘I am very pleased that the funding agreed earlier this year has allowed the Wicklow Hospice Foundation to move forward. I look forward to working closely with the Wicklow Hospice.’
Mr Dorgan understands that some members of the public may be frustrated by the delay, but asks for their patience.
‘We know that people are getting impatient because nothing is yet visible on site,’ he said. ‘We share this concern. We had hoped and planned to start the building sooner, but prudence requires that before we start we can see it all the way to completion.’
‘We are ramping up our fundraising programme to raise this further €1 million as soon as possible in order to commence the build. It’s a lot but we have raised €3.3 million to date and it is not insurmountable. We will be reaching out to philanthropic supporters both in Ireland and abroad as well as driving a corporate fundraising programme.
‘We will continue with an intensive programme of community fundraising events, which thanks to the support of the people of Wicklow, have raised significant funds over the past seven years. We are extremely grateful to the local community for their continued support, and together we will get there and build this 15-bed hospice for the people of County Wicklow.’
He also paid tribute to outgoing chairperson Dr Brendan Cuddihy, who chaired the Foundation for seven years.
‘Dr Cuddihy was the Founding Chairman and led with great energy and commitment with the support of an able and hardworking committee. I am delighted that he is continuing as a board member, contributing his experience and talents as we bring the project to fruition.’
WE UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE ASKING ‘WHY IS IT TAKING THEM SO LONG?’ BUT WE CAN’T START UNTIL WECAN ENSURE WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FINISH