The long-awaited establishment of a primary care centre and minor injuries unit in Killarney is finally gaining momentum.

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Last week the Killarney Advertiser revealed that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has confirmed that a planning application has been submitted for the new primary care centre, which aims to ease the burden on the University Hospital Kerry's accident and emergency department.

The primary care centre and minor injuries unit a joint project with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, is progressing as part of the HSE Capital Plan for 2024.

While the exact location of the unit has not been disclosed – for now – it has been doubly confirmed that a primary care centre will be built in Killarney.

In a recent letter to Cllr Marie Moloney, Dr Gerard O'Callaghan, Chief Operations Officer of the South/South West Hospital Group, stated that the plan for the care centre is progressing and is aligned with the Health and Safety Executives’ Capital Plan for 2024.

He also confirmed that Killarney has been chosen as the location for the centre.

Cllr Marie Moloney, a member of the Cork Kerry Community Health Forum, welcomed the news and expressed her intention to inquire about the specific location at the next meeting of the forum.

In a related development, Cllr Martin Grady has proposed converting the existing District Hospital in Killarney into a primary care unit once the new Community Hospital off Lewis Road is completed.

The establishment of these new healthcare facilities represents a significant step forward for Killarney and the surrounding region, providing much-needed access to primary care services and relieving pressure at University Hospital Kerry.