Ballyvolane primary care centre gets green light

Four-storey centre off the Ballyhooly Rd on Cork's northside is also expected to serve Mayfield, the Glen, St Luke’s, and Dublin Hill

Approval for the primary care centre has been welcomed by local councillor John Maher, who says the rapidly-growing area also needs a community centre, library, and a town centre. Picture: iStock 

Planning permission has been granted for a primary care centre in the northside of Cork City, with the Cork/Kerry region also set to pilot-test a new approach to heart care.

The centre, off the Ballyhooly Rd in Ballyvolane, will stand four stories high. It will also host a GP practice and a retail unit which is likely to be another pharmacy for the area. 

Parking will be provided for cars and bicycles, and there are also plans for solar panel development.

Local Labour councillor John Maher welcomed the plans, saying it will also have pedestrian access to new housing estates locally.

He said this took “years of campaigning” and expects it to serve the wider region across Mayfield, the Glen, St Luke’s, Dublin Hill, and other nearby areas. However, he said: 

Blackrock Hall Primary Care Centre in Blackrock, Cork. The planned Ballyvolane primary care centre also includes a GP practice and a retail unit which is likely to be a pharmacy. Picture: Larry Cummins 

“We must not stop here. Government must prioritise funding to deliver the basics like a community centre, a library, and a town centre for Ballyvolane.” 

Over 1,500 new homes have been built in the area he pointed out, saying this must be complemented by better services including for health.

Fianna Fáil councillor Margaret O’Donnell said the new centre “will make a real and lasting difference to people across Cork north east ward". 

"This is a significant milestone for a community that has waited far too long for modern, accessible primary care services close to home.” 

A visualisation of the primary care centre in Glanmire, Cork, on which work is progressing. 

In nearby Glanmire, works are progressing on a recently confirmed primary care centre following planning delays, she also said.

Cork/Kerry heart health pilot

Meanwhile six hospitals in Cork and Kerry will run an Irish pilot for an e-health programme on heart disease which is expected to improve care.

The EuroHeart programme is developing a Europe-wide registry, information released to Fine Gael TD Colm Burke by the HSE shows.

It is already running in 14 countries including England and France. Data is collected at key points including on admission to hospital and later during their care.

It means doctors get real-time information on patients for comparison across thousands of cases according to the European Society of Cardiology. 

The Irish pilot is funded by HSE South West and the Department of Health. The business case was approved by the government's digital governance oversight unit.