Government Delivering Beds at Kerry Community Hospitals - Deputy Michael Cahill

There is positive news at last on the horizon for Health Services in Kerry according to Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála Michael Cahill, who recently sought clarity from Claire McSweeney, Home Support Manager with the HSE for Older People, on the numbers of beds available in Kerry’s Community Hospitals. 

“I pushed for these very important figures so that we can see where we are and what we need to achieve. There are 42 beds open in Dingle Community Hospital with 2 more ready for occupancy, (Advertised this morning) and 2 more imminent within the next fortnight. Ms McSweeney also confirmed that it is planned to have another 11 beds fully registered with HIQA in Dingle in 2026” stated Deputy Cahill, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Older People and Tourism. 

“Cahersiveen Community Hospital has 29 beds open at present out of 33 available and awaiting staff recruitment. Cahersiveen is proving to be more challenging in the context of staffing and is the reason I have called on the Minster and the HSE to incentivise staff to come and work in areas such as the Dingle and Iveragh Peninsulas. Kenmare has 28 beds occupied out of 35, the extra 7 are registered and should be available for occupancy shortly. There are a further 6 beds there that are not yet registered with HIQA ” said Deputy Cahill, a member of the Joint Health Committee. 

“The new Killarney Community Hospital on the Bypass Road has 130 single en-suite bedrooms and will be handed over to the HSE this month and will be occupied during Quarter 1 2026. This is great news at long last and will increase the number of beds available from the 101 currently available in St Columbanus’s to 130" said the Rossbeigh based Councillor. 

 “This is all very positive news for Kerry and will be welcomed from Ballyferriter to Ballinskelligs, Kilcummin to Kilgarvan. I have pushed for these bed openings in Dáil Éireann and as a member of the the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee, with Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I have also proposed a Pilot Study of all Health services to cover the joint peninsulas of Corca Dhuibhne and Uíbh Ráthaigh to identify possible solutions” stated Deputy Cahill. 

“I believe we will need to create new incentives to attract suitably qualified staff for our Community Hospitals, as their remoteness seems to be an obstacle. I will continue to push for new initiatives on behalf of the people of Kerry that can be delivered by our present Government” added Michael Cahill TD.

ENDS