Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 November 2025

Select Committee on Health

Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary)

2:00 am

Ms Louise McGirr:

No, we are not satisfied, in essence. One of the particular issues is around how the drugs costs are not just doubled the next year. Drugs costs from year one can become four or five times more expensive in the preceding years, so forecasting has to improve. It has significantly improved in PCRS this year. We have a much bigger uplift for PCRS versus the rest of the budget as well as older persons for demographics. We have variants across our forecast for 2026 depending on high-pressure areas, including PCRS. The reality is that we also have to live within the budget we are allocated and that has to be spread across different service areas. We should not be artificially deflating demand service areas to improve financial management. We agree with that, and that is the approach we are taking for 2026, so it is higher in 2026-----

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.