National Ambulance Service training college to be located in East Cork town 

Youghal has been approved to develop Ireland’s fourth National Ambulance Service training college.

Cork East Fianna Fáil TD James O'Connor said that he had received confirmation that the HSE board had signed off on the development.  

Youghal will join Ballinasloe, Tullamore and Offaly in having such a training facility.

The college is understood to be located as an additional expansion to the new Primary Care Centre that is currently under construction near Pobalscoil na Tríonóide in the town.

Mr O'Connor said that the project would create jobs in the town.

“This is a major boost to Youghal and will involve a multi-million euro investment into the town. It will create a significant number of jobs and bring over 50 students a year to our locality to study as paramedics and all ambulance related training."

The project had suffered a temporary setback when the HSE deemed another site at St Raphael’s too expensive to redevelop, leading to Mr O'Connor calling plans for a temporary base at Haulbowline "a joke". 

Hard fought for 

A new 60-bedroom community nursing unit is now being assessed on a greenfield site at the St Raphael’s campus.

Mr O'Connor said that the decision to locate the college in Youghal was “hard fought for and involved a series of ministerial meetings prior to the development being included in the HSE capital plan.

"I understand this can be delivered within a 9-12 month period following planning approval," he said.

Mr O’Connor said that Youghal was the perfect candidate town due to its proximity between Cork and Waterford.

In a recent parliamentary response to Mr O'Connor, the HSE said:

"A proposed ambulance training base for Youghal has been included in the HSE Capital Plan 2026. The procurement process for the appointment of a design team for this project is underway, the HSE has completed the tender enquiry stage of the process with the evaluation of tenders due to complete in early Q2, 2026."