O’Shea Urges HSE South West to Advance New Mental Health Facility at St Stephen’s Hospital Without Delay

Cork North West Fine Gael TD Deputy John Paul O’Shea has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) South West to urgently accelerate the development of the new Acute Mental Health Facility planned for St Stephen’s Hospital, following confirmation that the project remains at the initial Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) stage.

The HSE, responding to a Parliamentary Question submitted by Deputy O’Shea, stated that the proposal for the new facility is “currently in development in line with Infrastructure Guidelines” and that the tender for Design Team services is still underway.

Deputy O’Shea said the slow progress is deeply concerning given the serious and growing demand for modern, purpose-built mental health services. “This project has been spoken about with a long time without meaningful movement. The current facilities there are archaic and out of date. Every day of delay impacts individuals and families who are relying on improved mental health supports. The HSE must prioritise this development and push it forward without further hesitation,” Deputy O’Shea said.

He stressed that the region urgently needs enhanced mental health capacity to meet rising demand and ensure patients receive care in safe, modern, fit-for-purpose facilities. “Mental health care must be given the same urgency as every other area of our health system. I am calling on the HSE to move this project to the next phase immediately and to provide a clear, time-bound plan for delivery. People cannot afford more delays,” he added.

Deputy O’Shea said he will continue to press the HSE South West until the project moves beyond early-stage assessments and into active development.