It will see non-emergency surgeries removed from the acute hospitals in Cork and Tralee.

However delays have dogged the schedule. Plans set out in December 2023 by the Department of Health to have construction start in 2026 and finish in 2027 fell by the wayside.

Last year, Derek Tierney, who is now the secretary general at the department, said the plan was to have the Cork site “up to shovel-ready status” within five years by 2030.

Since then, the HSE has been working on the project.

HSE South-West regional executive officer Dr Andy Philips has now said "the HSE is continuing to work to progress the detailed design works” for the new hospital.

In response to concerns raised by local patient advocates, he wrote in recent days: “The aim is to submit a planning application in the second half of 2026.” 

The letter, seen by the Irish Examiner, says design work includes looking at how patients and staff can move through the building and campus.

It will be built in Glanmire on the St Stephen’s Hospital campus. It is understood road access is a key sticking point.

Cork City Council has previously said it is “fully supportive” of the plans and this has not changed, it has indicated this week.

“The city council has engaged in extensive pre-planning discussions with the HSE on this proposal and substantial progress has been made on key planning issues identified,” it said some months ago.

The letter from Dr Philips also refers to plans for a surgical hub which is being built on the Cork University Hospital campus.

The opening date for this remains September this year, and it will also deliver elective non-emergency care, the letter indicates.

The hubs were initially announced as a group of six, but will now also include Sligo and Letterkenny.

So far, only the hub in South Dublin is open even though the first six were expected to open by 2024.

It emerged this month that two medical consultants are taking separate judicial reviews about the right to offer private healthcare in the hubs.

The Government has said the plan is to only offer public care in the hubs, as is the plan going forward for the hospitals.

This means private health insurance will not be accepted to cover costs at the new hubs. It means there will be only one waiting list for surgeries and other care — the public list.

A new contract being rolled out for consultants offers public-only work in HSE hospitals. 

Private work can only be done outside of contracted hours and off-site.