New Offaly medical facility reaches significant milestone in construction works

THE construction work on Birr Primary Care Centre is progressing well, an Engineer's update has revealed this week.
Consulting Engineer Jason Redmond of the Portlaoise company Jason Redmond & Associates, pointed out in a short statement that the PCC “has reached a major milestone with the completion of structural works and significant progress on civil engineering elements.”
He said the new development marks a key phase in “delivering enhanced healthcare infrastructure and future connectivity for the region.”
He pointed out that the PCC is strategically located and will “not only provide vital health services to the community but also serve as the anchor point for the first phase of a new distributor link road (the Southern Distributor). This road will support future residential and commercial developments, improving access and mobility across Birr and surrounding areas.
“As engineers, it’s incredibly satisfying to see our designs evolve from the drawing board to reality.”
He also showed drone footage of the site “which highlights just how well-advanced the PCC is, and it’s exciting to witness the transformation taking shape on the ground.”

Offaly County Council granted planning permission to BPI Investments, a Portarlington-based company, in March 2023 for the construction of the medical facility on its site at the rear of the Outdoor Education Centre on Roscrea Road. The three-storey development spanning 4,060 square metres, makes provision for 807 square metres of GP surgery space, a pharmacy spanning 138 square metres and two consulting rooms totalling 34 square metres.

A two-storey ambulance Base with single storey garage will also form part of the new development, along with 157 car-parking spaces, six motorcycle parking spaces, 50 bicycle spaces, 16 electrical charge points and traffic control barriers for employee parking.

The plan to build a PCC was first mooted more than a decade ago and was beset by difficulties during the years following, primarily in relation to finding a suitable site to build on. Two sites, at Birr Rugby Club and a Council-owned site at the Rectory Field, were rejected, before the site on Roscrea road known as ‘The Brothers Field’ was earmarked for the development.

The full site encompasses 19 acres, but the Primary Care Centre is to be built on 3.5 acres of the site.