Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, Pádraig O’Sullivan, has welcomed confirmation that agreement has been reached with landowners to facilitate a new access road for Cork’s long-awaited elective hospital, paving the way for the HSE to proceed with a planning application.
Deputy O’Sullivan said he was particularly pleased to see progress following his efforts to bring the HSE and landowners together for discussions over the access arrangements.
Deputy O’Sullivan said:
“Today is a good day for the people of Cork. We have been talking about this hospital for far too long, and it is very welcome to see real progress being made on the ground. I am particularly pleased to have played a role in helping to move this issue forward. Since December 2025, I have been liaising with landowners and the HSE on multiple occasions to help facilitate discussions around the access arrangements for the site.
“Those conversations helped bring the relevant parties together and provided an opportunity to work through the issues involved. I am delighted that agreement has now been reached and that the HSE can move forward with the next stage of this important project.
“This is a significant development for Cork. The HSE now has the ability to progress its planning application for the hospital and the new access road, and I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that momentum is maintained.”
Deputy O’Sullivan said the elective hospital would play an important role in increasing capacity and reducing pressure on Cork’s acute hospitals.
“Cork needs this hospital. Our acute hospitals continue to face enormous pressure, and providing dedicated capacity for elective procedures will be an important part of improving how healthcare is delivered across the region. The people of Cork have been waiting for this project for years. We have seen plans come and go, but today’s progress gives us a real opportunity to move from talking about the hospital to actually delivering it.
“There is still a planning process to go through, and we need to see that process progress as quickly as possible. But reaching agreement on the access arrangements means the project can now move forward in a meaningful way.”
Deputy O’Sullivan said he would continue to engage with the HSE, Cork City Council and Government to ensure the project maintains momentum.
“I want to thank the landowners and the HSE for their engagement throughout this process. Getting people around the table and maintaining those conversations has helped get us to where we are today. I will continue to work with all of the relevant stakeholders to keep this project moving. Cork has waited long enough for its elective hospital, and we now need to see the planning application submitted and the project progress towards construction.
“This is a good day for the people of Cork, and I look forward to seeing this project move forward.”
ENDS