New multi-storey car park at Cork's CUH to replace spaces lost to building works
However, rather than adding any additional parking spaces, the HSE says the multi-storey will compensate for the loss of current spaces due to the building plans. Picture: Denis Scannell.
Progress on a new multi-storey car park for CUH got a major boost with the announcement of funding for the project which will have capacity for at least 500 vehicles.
The announcement came as part of the awarding of almost €112m for Cork health projects under the HSE’s building and equipment capital plan for 2026 which also sees funding for a new helipad at the Cork hospital.
Almost €483,000 will go towards the design feasibility stage of plans for the new multistorey car park on the CUH campus, to be located in front of the Cardiac Renal Centre.
However, rather than adding any additional parking spaces, the HSE says the multi-storey will compensate for the loss of current spaces due to the building plans.
The funding will also help progress the elective hospital and surgical hub as well as going towards a new helipad at Cork University Hospital.
The Cork allocation comes as part of a €1.3bn allocation nationally for the development and enhancement of healthcare infrastructure.
The largest single allocation is €34.6m for the CUH surgical hub facility, including four operating theatres and two minor procedure rooms to proceed to construction.
Other allocations for CUH include €2m for a new helipad, and €3.4m for detailed design of the paediatric department development.
Nearly €12m has been allocated for the purchase and fit-out of three existing buildings in Curraheen, while €100,000 will go towards the purchasing and fitting out of the former Abtran building at Cork Business and Technology Park, Model Farm Road, to accommodate non-patient-facing personnel, and €168,420 will be used to purchase and fitout a property adjacent to CUH to support future development of the hospital.
St Stephen's Hospital has also been allocated funding under several projects; €2.2m for the replacement of their mental health unit, €1.2m for design feasibility stage of plans to reconfigure of the existing ground floor and build an extension to provide additional beds.
A further €2.2m has been provided for design feasibility stage of the long awaited elective hospital, set to be developed on the St Stephen’s site.
In the Mercy University Hospital, €1.5m will go towards opening two new endoscopy rooms, €1.3m to refurbish and upgrade the existing St. Michael's Ward to bring accommodation up to standard, and €1.6m for plans under the Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan.
In St Finbarr's Hospital, an ambulance base will move to tender, helped by a €5m allocation, while South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital has been allocated €280,700 for the replacement of the roof above main reception and surrounding departments.
In St Mary's Health Campus, €1.4m will be used for the relocation of sexual assault treatment unit, while €842,100 will be put towards the refurbishment and reconfiguration of Heather House nursing home in Gurranabraher.
New hospital beds are included in the plans also, with funding provide for 18 beds in CUH’s vacated ophthalmology department plus further beds in the Blackwater suite and the tendering of 24 acute and 12 stroke rehabilitation beds at Bantry General Hospital.
Other projects in Cork county include €8.4m for a new residential facility at St Raphael's, Youghal to replace the existing Youghal Community Hospital and Cois Abhann Welfare Home.
In Mallow, €1.6m will be used for a new ambulance base in Mount Alvernia, and €3.6m to fit out two floors of shell space in a Mallow General Hospital building to provide an inpatient ward on the first and outpatient ward, with additional space for an obesity/bariatric clinic on the ground floor.
In Midleton, €4.6m will go towards a purpose-built 10-bed Community Rehabilitation Residence with single room ensuite accommodation at Owenacurra, Midleton, which has been permanently closed since October 2023.
St Patrick's Community Hospital in Fermoy will receive €4.6m and St Joseph’s Community Hospital in Millstreet €1.6m for the refurbishment and extension of their Community Nursing Units.
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