Horgan is new chair of health forum

By Finnian Cox

Cork City Councillor Peter Horgan (Labour) has been named as the new Chair of the Regional Health Forum South West.

Covering Cork and Kerry, the forum gives reports to the HSE on the range and provision of health and personal social services in the region.

In a statement, Cllr Horgan said the appointment to the forum was an honour, speaking on his belief that “public health is public wealth”, and that it must be harnessed.

“There are challenges and opportunities across the region”, said Cllr Horgan.

“We must ensure that Cork and Kerry are to the fore in providing the public health we all want to see delivered on the ground.”

A former journalist, the Labour councillor for Cork City South-East was first elected in 2024 after being eliminated on the seventh count in the 2019 local elections.

Cllr Horgan was elected at the forum’s annual general meeting, held in Kerry Council Chambers in Tralee recently, taking over from Cllr Finbarr Harrington.

In a statement, Cllr Harrington thanked the HSE, his fellow forum members, paying special attention to healthcare staff.

“Their dedication, compassion and resilience, often in very challenging circumstances, are truly remarkable and deserve our deepest gratitude and respect,” he said.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.