HSE South West media release
June 5, 2025
HSE South West has today (Thursday) provided updates on a range of issues relating to the delivery of health and social care services in Kerry, to local authority members of the Regional Heath Forum.
The Regional Health Forum comprises of representatives from Kerry County, Cork City, and Cork County Councils, as well as local authorities from the South East within the functional area of each Forum.
Disability Respite Service - raised by Cllr Marie Moloney
“HSE South West Disability Services is acutely aware of the demand for respite services and has significantly invested in respite in recent years. The type and quantum of respite has been increased each year to meet the assessed needs and preferences of as many people as possible.
In 2019, funding of €6.4m was allocated to respite services in Cork and Kerry, and in 2024 the allocated funding was €12.4m - representing an almost 100% increase in funding allocation for respite services in the six-year period.
HSE South West Disability Services continues to invest in respite services, proactively seeking alternative respite models and using all available funding to provide respite services for all children and adults who require them. We are also working with service providers to create new residential and alternative respite supports for children and adults in 2025 and we welcome any additional funding to continue to invest in these vital services.
HSE South West Disability Services provide a range of alternative respite models for children and adults. These include afterschool clubs, in-home support for children and adults, outreach supports and holiday breaks for adults. These options ensure that respite is provided in the manner which best meets the needs of children/adults and their families.”
Vacant HSE Properties in Kerry - raised by Cllr Deirdre Ferris
“The HSE locally is working through the Land Development Agency and the Department of Public Expenditure Delivery and Reform process for the disposal of properties which are surplus to requirements.
As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property. If, at the end of that process, no alternative State use has been identified for the property, it will be offered for sale on the open market.”
Potential Ambulance Base Killorglin - raised by Cllr Norma Moriarty
“The National Ambulance Service (NAS) have engaged with the Integrated Health Area manager for Kerry and HSE Estates to identify a suitable HSE-owned building in Killorglin and create a fourth ambulance dispatch point in South Kerry.
We have identified a building and hope that agreement can be reached with existing stakeholders to allow NAS commence service delivery in the coming weeks.
Within our current resource level, it will be possible to provide a day only (8am-8pm) Patient Transporting Resource, in line with demand, and a single Paramedic in a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) on a limited number of nights. It is intended that this will represent an initial step towards increased service delivery, and it will be augmented by additional paramedic posts that have been sought for the South Kerry region in the 2026 New Service Posts (NSP) submission.”
Cashel Ward University Hospital Kerry - raised by Cllr Deirdre Ferris
“HSE South West can confirm that a plan is in place to repair the pipework in the Cashel Ward at University Hospital Kerry in the coming weeks. The work will be carried out in two phases, with the ward decanting also occurring in two stages to ensure a smooth transition. This project should take approximately 10 weeks to complete.”
Primary Care Centre on the grounds of the Áras Phádraig - raised by Cllr Marie Moloney
“The HSE wish to confirm that they are fully committed to building a Primary Care Centre on the grounds of Áras Phádraig. There have been several previous attempts to provide a Primary Care facility in Killarney, with little positive results.
The provision of a Primary Care facility on the grounds of Áras Phádraig site was a joint venture planning application with Kerry County Council. Both the HSE and Kerry County Council officials are of the opinion that the provision of the Theatre and a Primary Care facility on the same site in an urban setting will be complementary to each development, from a planning and sustainability view point. Once planning permission has been successful, it will take approximately three years to complete.”
Feasibility of landing air ambulance at Derrynane GAA in Caherdaniel - raised by Cllr Norma Moriarty
“HSE South West have forwarded the query to the National Ambulance Service (NAS) General Manager with responsibility for Heli-Ops, who has advised that the NAS will review the suitability of the proposed location at V23 TX20.
NAS will undertake an initial ground reconnaissance before proceeding to an aerial reconnaissance with the NAS, Air Corps and Coastguard Helicopters. All pre-determined landing sites must be surveyed by aeromedical service providers prior to approval. The reason for a survey is lighting, netting and structures, including road access and egress, which all need to be fully assessed and be accepted for all types of aircraft used for aeromedical missions in Ireland.”
Future use of the current Community Hospital/St Columbanus campus in Killarney - raised by Cllr Marie Moloney
“The new Minor Injury Unit which is planned for the Kerry area will be located in the grounds of the St Columbanus Home/Killarney Commuity Hospital campus. The space requirements and needs of the services in the Kerry area are currently being reviewed by HSE Estates, in conjunction with service management and Public Health. We await the outcome of this review and it will inform any decision on the future use of the remaining available space on the Killarney Community Hospital/ St Columbanus campus.”
Last updated on: 06 / 06 / 2025
