No ‘provisional registration’ for delayed Killarney unit, says Hiqa

Health watchdog rejects claims made by the HSE at a regional forum meeting that the long-delayed community nursing unit was due to be registered

The 130-bed Killarney Community Nursing Unit is completed but has lain idle for two years. File picture

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has denied a claim by the HSE that the long-delayed Killarney Community Nursing Unit is set to be granted provisional registration.

Hiqa says there is no such thing as provisional registration.

The HSE made the claim in a written reply to a motion at a Regional Health Forum South West meeting in Tralee on Thursday.

The 130-bed hospital is completed but has lain idle for two years.

Independent councillor Jackie Healy-Rae, a member of the health forum, asked when it was going to open. 

In a written reply, the HSE said : “Following weeks of positive and constructive engagement between HSE local management, HSE National Estates and Hiqa, HSE South West has written to Hiqa confirming updated site works and agreed dates for requested outstanding works.” 

The HSE continued: “It is hoped that these confirmations will be sufficient for Hiqa to grant provisional registration of the unit in the coming days.” 

Asked for a statement on the opening and to define the nature of provisional registration, Hiqa says there is no such thing legally.

“In granting an application to register a nursing home, the chief inspector of social services must be sure that the intended provider, in this case the HSE, will comply with the required regulations and standards. 

"Where the chief inspector is satisfied that a centre will comply with the required regulations and standards, then an application to register is granted. The legal framework does not provide for 'provisional registration'."

Hiqa said the application to register Killarney Community Nursing Home remains under consideration, with extensive, ongoing engagement with the HSE on what needs to be done to ensure the facility can be registered. 

That engagement has ensured that the HSE, as the intended provider, has, since February 2026, been fully appraised as to the issues that must be addressed in order to secure registration.

Registration will be granted as soon as the chief inspector is satisfied that the HSE has addressed all outstanding issues to ensure it will comply with the required regulations and standards.

Despite two years of questioning of the HSE about the delay, public representatives have not been able to establish the reasons for the delay and in some cases their questions have gone unanswered by the HSE, the health forum meeting was told.

“Two years ago we got a tour of that hospital. Even the gardens are done. The lights are on — but there’s no one at home,” said Labour Party councillor Marie Moloney.

“Everyone in Killarney is talking about it. They are calling it another Children’s Hospital.”

Staff from nearby Columbanus and the Community Hospital from where patients are to be transferred are being brought to the new unit for training. 

The Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation has since served notice of industrial action over concerns about staffing levels.