News
Concerns Killarney will have more derelict buildings
By Sean Moriarty
There are fears that the construction of the new community hospital on the grounds of St Finan’s will result in more State-owned buildings lying idle.
FUTURE: There are concerns that the existing Killarney Community Hospital will lie idle once construction of the new hospital is complete. Photo: Sean Moriarty
FUTURE: There are concerns that the existing Killarney Community Hospital will lie idle once construction of the new hospital is complete. Photo: Sean Moriarty
The new 130-bed unit which is expected to be completed by end of 2024 is currently under-construction near the bypass and Lewis Road junction. It will serve as a replacement for the existing St Columbanus Home and Killarney Community Hospital on St Margaret’s Road.
The HSE have yet to announce what will happen to the existing buildings once construction of the new hospital is complete.
There are concerns that they will join a host of other such sites in the town, like the Pretty Polly factory, the Áras Phádraig, and St Finan’s Hospital.
While there are plans in place for the former two buildings, work has yet to start on construction of either and the latter has been idle since 2012 with no sign of a potential investor on the horizon.
Cllr Brendan Cronin raised the issue at Monday’s Kerry County Council meeting.
He is concerned because a Primary Care Unit is part of the plan to re-develop the Áras Phádraig, and that could leave St Columbanus Home and the existing Community Hospital unoccupied.
"Have Kerry County Council got clarification from the HSE regarding what use is intended for the Killarney Community Hospital building and site and the St Columbanus building and site now that the new Community Hospital is under construction,” he asked the meeting.
“I believe it is very important to get this clarification before Kerry County Council signs over lands at Áras Phádraig, Lewis Road to the HSE for a primary care centre."
Last November, Killarney Municipal District approved plans for the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig.
However, some elected councillors had reservations about the inclusion of a HSE Primary Care Unit within the project.
At that time councillors were told that the inclusion of the Primary Care Unit was a redline issue as without it funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund would not be forthcoming for the entire project.
“Maybe now that I have focused attention on these two properties that will soon become vacant, Council management will have to actually contact the HSE seeking clarification regarding future potential. I have also made it clear that this clarification from HSE should be provided before the Council sign over any of the Áras Phádraig site to the HSE,” Cllr Cronin told the Killarney Advertiser.
Frustration mounts over morning gridlock at Coolcorcoran
Mounting traffic gridlock at the Coolcorcoran junction onto the N22 Killarney Bypass is causing daily delays for commuters, with local motorists calling on Killarney Municipal District and elected representatives to take immediate action.
Early morning traffic coming from the Tralee side has become severely backed up past BG Motors during the peak 8.15am commute.
Motorists attempting to enter the bypass from the Coolcorcoran side face long queues and increasing frustration as they struggle to join the main road.
Local drivers point to a specific design issue at the exit, where a raised kerb and a section of unused footpath prevent left-turning vehicles from merging smoothly into the traffic flow.
Road users are requesting a simple layout modification to resolve the bottleneck: converting the exit to left-turn only, removing the kerb obstruction, and directing driver traffic to loop via a U-turn at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre roundabout. Similar left-turn measures were previously implemented at the nearby Lewis Road junction to improve safety and traffic flow.
The request comes as broader plans for the N22 bypass upgrade and new link road infrastructure remain under progression by Kerry County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Motorists wishing to share their views on local road issues can email info@killarneyadvertiser.ie.
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