Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting and strengthening services at Mallow General Hospital, following ongoing public discussion about the future of its emergency care.
Deputy Kenny said that during the recent General Election campaign, many people in North Cork raised concerns about whether the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department could ever be reinstated. After raising the issue with the HSE, he confirmed that under the 2013 national hospital reconfiguration plan, A&E services were transferred from smaller hospitals like Mallow to larger regional facilities such as Cork University Hospital.
However, Deputy Kenny said Mallow General continues to play a vital role within the local healthcare network, providing three essential services, the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU), the Injury Unit, and Acute Inpatient Beds, all supported by a highly dedicated team of staff.
“We are extremely proud of our hospital — the incredible staff, the care they provide, and the trust our community places in them every single day,” Deputy Kenny said. “We must protect Mallow General Hospital at all costs. The services and staff are excellent, but they need our support to grow and strengthen — with more staff, more resources, and extended hours where possible.”
He added that the community must remain both “realistic and ambitious”, maintaining the services that currently exist while continuing to push for upgrades and future investment to secure the hospital’s long-term future.
“Mallow General Hospital is at the heart of our community, and I’ll continue to do everything I can to ensure it stays strong and supported for the people of North Cork,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Kenny also raised concerns about spending by Iarnród Éireann, after it was revealed that over €200,000 has been spent on transfer buses between Mallow and Cork Kent Station since the beginning of this year.
The bus transfers are being used while parts of the train line are temporarily closed for ongoing construction and maintenance, including works linked to the Cork Area Commuter Rail Project and improvements to the Cork Tunnel.
A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann confirmed that the works have required “regular late evening and weekend” bus transfers and said the planned bus hire costs for 2025 amount to €202,368.
While acknowledging the need for the infrastructure upgrades, Deputy Kenny said the costs must not fall unfairly on passengers. “I welcome the developments and I believe they are necessary,” he said, “but I do not expect delays and the renting of private buses at a cost to the ordinary member of the public, who pay their taxes.”
Deputy Kenny said he would continue to engage with Iarnród Éireann and the Department of Transport to ensure that investment in rail services delivers value for money while maintaining reliability for commuters across North Cork.
