The total health budget for 2026 has been fixed at €27.4 billion.
This record allocation of current expenditure represents a €1.5 billion or 6.2% increase on 2025 funding and, according to the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeil, will enable faster and fairer access to care for everyone in Ireland.
The Minister said that in 2026, there would be a shift to a performance-led model of investment, with all six Health Regions empowered to utilise resources strategically in a way that meets the needs of their communities.
“Through better deployment of our existing workforce, in particular delivering services on a seven-day basis, and an additional 3,300 whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff in the Health Service Executive (HSE), we can significantly reduce regional disparities in access to care and support the evolution of a more sustainable, efficient health service that responds better to patients’ needs.
“As the state moderates its spending growth, I have secured a budget that will support faster access to quality care, while maximising value for money. We cannot continue to spend more without spending smarter, and Budget 2026 represents a sea-change in how we target our investment. We are striving for increased productivity in all regions, and driving innovation as we develop faster, smarter and safer ways of delivering healthcare.”
Investment in healthcare throughout 2026 will focus on:
- Addressing regional inequity in access and reducing waiting times: It is aimed to achieve this through delivery of services on a 5/7 basis, reducing waiting times across all major service areas, expanding GP out-of-hours services and home support hours and an additional €217 million investment in Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) medicines, including €30 million in new medicines.
- Improving safety and prioritising prevention measures: This will include public health initiatives to increase immunisation and screening uptake, reducing harmful health behaviours, as well as programmes to tackle obesity, frailty, and chronic disease, and a focus on mental health supports and safe staffing levels.
- New capacity and reform: This includes the delivery of new acute hospital, community and virtual beds, new primary care centres, more training places for health professionals, continued development of advanced practice roles, and prioritising community-first care ,including expansion of the role of pharmacists. It also provides for surgical hub construction and strengthened delivery of virtual health services.
- Productivity and value for money: Driving greater productivity and value for money in our hospital and community settings, for example: more appointments, extended hours for operating theatres, expanded access to diagnostics, and shifting hospital activity to community settings. It will also support increased efficiency through use of digital and Artificial Intelligence systems.
Mental Health
An additional 300 whole-time equivalent staff will be hired in mental health services in 2026, reflecting the significant need in this area. This represents 9% of the overall growth in health service staffing next year. This record budget will allow for a major focus on improving our response for people in mental health crisis both in hospitals and in the community.
Mary Butler, Minister of State at the Department of Health, with special responsibility for Mental Health said, “Specialist nursing teams (ANP and CNS) will be placed in the Emergency Departments of all Model 4 hospitals out-of-hours, in addition to the establishment of a new crisis response pathway for children and young people staffed by specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) doctors.
Three new Crisis Resolution Teams with associated ‘drop-in’ crisis cafés will be funded for Donegal, Kerry and the Midlands (Tullamore/Westmeath) as crisis alternatives to Emergency Departments to support those in a mental health crisis. An additional 12 new Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses will be allocated to work with people in distress who present to GP services in communities.
This Budget will also facilitate an increase in bed capacity for mental health services, including the opening and commissioning of 21 CAMHS acute inpatient beds. It will also provide staffing to open 10 new Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit beds at the National Forensic Mental Health Service.
Older Persons
There will be an increase of €215 million for older persons services in 2026, representing over a 7.1% increase on 2025 This funding will provide for an increase of 1.7 million hours to provide for 26.7 million hours of home support for next year.
A total of €92 million of additional funding will also be allocated to the Fair Deal scheme to support the nursing home sector to expand services and improve quality. It includes providing 500 more people with financial support to access long-term residential care.
Minister for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell said, “We are also committed to further investment in residential care through the opening of new beds in Community Nursing Units and a new scheme to enhance the resident environment in nursing homes.
“We have secured a substantial €2 million in additional funding for Meals on Wheels services, which is a priority for government. Of great benefit to thousands of older people, this is over a 30% increase in funding on 2025, which currently delivers 2.7 million meals to 18,000 people.
“We have allocated an additional €2.3 million in funding towards improved access to diagnostics and supports for people with dementia.
“This funding includes the National dementia registry, memory assessment and support services, supporting the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland expansion of day care in the community and in the home, and will also see the total number of dementia advisers nationwide increasing to 36.”
Minister O’Donnell also confirmed that a minimum of 22% of all new home support hours will be ringfenced for people with dementia.
Public Health and Inclusion Health
The Department said that developing a sustainable, future-ready healthcare service required an increased emphasis on prevention, empowering people to maintain and protect good health.” Budget 2026 prioritises public health initiatives to increase immunisation and screening uptake, including programmes to tackle obesity, frailty, and chronic disease.
“It also aims to enhance drugs and inclusion health services through an additional €11 million which will address gaps in service provision and expand capacity in residential and community-based treatment facilities.
Jennifer Murnane O’Connor Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy said, “The money invested in public health initiatives next year will help to lay the foundations for a healthier future for everyone. We must focus on promoting positive health behaviours and protecting young people from harmful pathways, so I’m particularly delighted to have secured €200,000 for a campaign to address vaping rates among young people. Funding to enhance health and wellbeing will also support the implementation of our national sexual health strategy, including funding for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medication as well as measures to address obesity, and increased breastfeeding supports. In line with this Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty I am also supporting the Hot School Meals Programme by increasing the number of Environmental Health Officers to support robust inspections.
“Good health starts even before birth, so I’m pleased to have secured additional funding for initiatives like the Brighter Beginnings programme for Traveller children.
“I’m also determined that geography will not be a barrier to accessing timely, quality care so I am committing to the continued expansion of drug and inclusion health services across all Health Regions, with a particular focus on rural areas. Investment in 2026 will also prioritise those in vulnerable groups, addressing gaps in service provision and supporting more people to enjoy better health outcomes.”
