HSE progressing capital developments across counties across Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary

The South East sub-committee of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum South had its first meeting of 2025 this week, where members heard updates from HSE management on a number of capital projects in the Carlow-Kilkenny/Tipperary South area.

Speaking about a presentation given to the meeting by the HSE’s Estates Dept., Roseanne Killeen (Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Carlow-Kilkenny/Tipperary South in the HSE’s Dublin and South East region) said:

“There are various projects across hospital and community healthcare services that are being progressed, according as to various necessary steps in processes are established. These include design, confirmation of accommodation schedules, availability or suitability of a site, tender for construction, funding approval and other consultations and considerations. We will be updating public representatives and media as they are advanced.”

“What we have outlined for members of the Forum represents a comprehensive range of services in which the HSE is investing, to the benefit of those we serve and of my colleagues in the various disciplines and support services in question.”   

 Among projects currently being progressed in the Carlow-Kilkenny/Tipperary South Integrated Healthcare Area are:

Acute Hospitals and Ambulance Services:

• A Development Control Plan is currently being prepared for St. Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny (SLGH CK). Hospital stakeholders are currently being engaged as part of the process.
• Enabling works for new Dolmen Wing at SLGH are being progressed.
• Planning approval has been received and work will commence later this year on new ambulance station facilities at the Our Lady’s Hospital complex in Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
• Plans are being progressed in relation to a new Local Injuries Unit in Carlow. Work is expected to start on a new Local Injuries Unit in Cashel in the next few months.
• A new Development Control Plan is being developed for the Tipperary University Hospital campus in Clonmel. It will progress proposals for a new ward block to relocate Maternity, Paediatrics, and Medical 1 Ward services, in addition to planning towards the provision of a second new block to provide 48 additional beds as part of National Bed Capacity Plan.
• A new Emergency Dept. Waiting Area design is in progress for Tipperary University Hospital.

Community Healthcare Services:

• A new 50 en-suite bed Residential Care Centre is nearing completion in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Under the management of Cashel Residential Older Persons Services, it will provide long term and palliative care to older persons and will replace the 18 bed facility at the adjacent St. Anthony’s Unit in Clonmel.
• A new 95 en-suite bed Residential Care Centre is nearing completion in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. The new facility will provide long term and palliative care to older persons and will replace the 55 bed facility at the adjacent St. Columba’s Hospital in Thomastown.
• The Roche Nagle GP practice has recently taken up residence in a suite on the ground floor of the HSE’s Carrick on Suir Primary Care Centre in Co. Tipperary. Additional accommodation works will begin in the Centre shortly towards accommodating a second GP practice in a space on the first floor of the building, located at Pil Road, Carrick on Suir. 
• The HSE’s Carlow/Kilkenny Integrated Care Programme (ICPOP) are moving from St. Luke’s General Hospital to a new premises in the community. Oriel House in Loughboy, Kilkenny will serve as an ICPOP Hub (hosting clinics etc.), a base for the HSE’s home support services in the Carlow/Kilkenny area and accommodate an administrative centre for Older Persons services in Carlow, Kilkenny and other parts of the South East.
• New facilities for services of the area’s Children’s Disability Network Team have been completed at the Thomastown Primary Care Centre in Co. Kilkenny.
• A first phase of works towards accommodating Enhanced Community Care clinics and other support services in the St. Patrick’s Hospital building in Cashel was completed in 2024. A second phase is due to commence this year.
• Construction of a Primary Care Centre complex in Fethard, Co. Tipperary is under way.
• Provision for Enhanced Community Care facilities will proceed on the St. Luke’s Hospital campus in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
• A developer is in place and a planning application about to be lodged to proceed with a new Primary Care Centre in Tullow, Co. Carlow. A similar project for Graiguenamagh in Co. Kilkenny (and serving parts of Co. Carlow) is at the same stage and a planning application is also being prepared for the development of a Primary Care Centre in Freshford, Co. Kilkenny.
• Planning approval has been secured for a new Enhanced Community Care development at Hebron to complement the  Newpark Primary Care Centre in Kilkenny, with contractors expected on site shortly. Upgrade works at the HSE’s Community Care Services Centre, James’s Green, Kilkenny are due for completion in the next few weeks, as are the improvement works at health centres in Castlecomer and Clough in Co. Kilkenny and Bansha, Co. Tipperary.