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Community hospital set to go to tender

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4 years ago

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By Sean Moriarty

The long awaited community hospital has taken a step close to reality this week.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) hopes to build a replacement hospital for Saint Columbanus District Hospital.

The new 130 hospital will be built on the grounds of St Finan’s – so far the only realistic proposal for the now derelict psychiatric hospital that has been idle since 2012.

Earlier this week a group of Kerry politicians met with senior staff from the HSE in Tralee where it was confirmed that the building works will go to tender in the next few months.

Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae attended the meeting.

“I am glad to welcome the update on the 130 bed community hospital in Killarney and that it is hoped that the tender will go out in the third quarter of this year. This is very important for the people of the entire Killarney catchment area,” he said.

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South Kerry Jobs Fair returns to Great Southern Hotel in February

The 2026 South Kerry Jobs Fair is set to return to Killarney with a wide range of employment opportunities across multiple industries. Organised by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP), […]

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58 minutes ago

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16 January 2026

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The 2026 South Kerry Jobs Fair is set to return to Killarney with a wide range of employment opportunities across multiple industries.

Organised by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP), the recruitment event will take place at The Great Southern Hotel on Thursday, February 12.
Employers from sectors including construction, hospitality, IT, finance, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare will be in attendance to meet with potential new recruits.
Beyond the chance to meet employers, jobseekers can participate in free workshops designed to improve their employment prospects. these sessions will cover essential skills such as drafting effective cover letters, CV preparation, and techniques for undergoing job interviews. There will also be information provided regarding employer relations supports for those seeking new roles.
Joanne Griffin, Enterprise Officer for SKDP, noted that the fair has grown significantly over the years and is now established as a key date for recruitment in the region. She highlighted that the informal setting allows both parties to ask questions and determine if a position is the right fit. SKDP CEO Noel Spillane added that the event is particularly vital for local businesses, including those in the tourism sector, to ensure they have sufficient staffing for the upcoming season.
This year’s event is supported by the Great Southern Hotel, Intreo, Local Link Kerry, South Kerry Skillnet, and Morgan McKinley. To ensure the fair is accessible to as many people as possible, buses will be provided to transport attendees from across the South Kerry region to the hotel in Killarney.

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Government latte levy delay is fuelling litter crisis

The founders of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project and the environmental group VOICE have issued a warning that government inaction is undermining local efforts to reduce waste. Despite Killarney leading […]

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3 hours ago

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16 January 2026

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The founders of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project and the environmental group VOICE have issued a warning that government inaction is undermining local efforts to reduce waste.

Despite Killarney leading the way as Ireland’s first coffee cup-free town, the group says the project is now on “precarious footing” because a promised national levy on disposable cups has failed to materialise.
The “latte levy” was included in the Circular Economy Act 2022, but a start date has yet to be confirmed. Advocates argue that without this charge at the point of sale, there is no financial incentive for customers to switch to reusables, leaving local independent businesses to carry the burden alone.
The call for action follows the latest IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) report, which found that disposable coffee cups remain a major litter problem, appearing in one-fifth of all surveyed sites across Ireland.
In contrast, the report noted that plastic bottles and cans have become 60% less common since the Deposit Return Scheme was introduced last year, proving that state-led financial measures are effective.
“We need Government to act, so that we can level the playing field. Without a levy, at the point of sale, customers are not incentivised to choose reusable alternatives, businesses aren’t motivated to offer reusable alternatives, and large coffee chains continue with their business models that depend on disposables.” said the founders of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project. “The loss of political will is deeply worrying.”
Ireland currently uses over 200 million single-use cups every year.
VOICE and local organisers point to the success of the plastic bag levy as a model, noting that it changed public behaviour almost overnight.
They argue that funds from a cup levy could be ringfenced to pay for national infrastructure, such as specialized street bins and cleaning hubs for reusable cups.
Tad Kirakowski, CEO of VOICE, urged the government to honour its commitment, stating that continued delays send the wrong signal and lock the country into unnecessary waste.

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