a day ago
Kerry town to receive new ambulance point pending stakeholder agreement
In response to a request raised by Fianna Fáil Councillor Norma Moriarty, the HSE said the National Ambulance Service (NAS) had already engaged with the Integrated Health Area manager for Kerry and HSE Estates to identify a suitable HSE-owned building in Killorglin.
A suitable building for a dispatch point has already been located but this is subject to agreement between existing stakeholders and HSE to allow the NAS commence service delivery in the coming weeks.
The HSE stated that within its current resource level, it would be possible to provide a day only (8am-8pm) Patient Transporting Resource, in line with demand, and a single paramedic in a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) on a limited number of nights.
The intention is that the new service will represent an initial step towards increasing ambulance service delivery in Killorglin.
"It will be augmented by additional paramedic posts that have been sought for the South Kerry region in the 2026 New Service Posts (NSP) submission,' the HSE South West confirmed.
HSE South West provide updates on a range of issues to local authority members at its Regional Heath Forum relating to the delivery of health and social care services in Kerry.
The Regional Health Forum comprises of representatives from Kerry County, Cork City, and Cork County Councils, as well as local authorities from the South East within the functional area of each Forum.
Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill said he also called on the minister to prioritise the provision of an ambulance base in Killorglin.
He noted that Killorglin town and the wider mid-Kerry region is too vastly populated to be without an ambulance base. He listed the number of festivals that take place in the region at summer time.
"I raised this matter on a number of occasions as a member of Kerry County Council. Subsequently, I submitted a Parliamentary Question on this very issue at the end of April when making representations to the HSE. I will be raising the matter again next week in the Dáil," said Fianna Fáil's spokesperson for Older People & Tourism.
"This ambulance base is absolutely critical and an absolute priority for Kerry. There are suitable locations available in Killorglin and it has always been a priority for me. I am confident that my strong representations will bare fruit," added Deputy Cahill.
