Written answers

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Department of Health

National Development Plan

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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3178. To ask the Minister for Health the amount provided for outstanding contractual commitments, by project, at July 2025 including the new children's and maternity hospitals as part of revised NDP allocations. [43759/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The overarching focus of the National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025 is the provision of a National Plan which creates the building blocks needed to deliver critical and transformational investment in infrastructure across the country and regions for the years ahead.

The Plan is the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State.

As committed to in the Programme for Government and the National Development (NDP) Review, the Government is prioritising critical economic growth enabling and international competitiveness boosting sectors – water, energy, transport, housing and health digitalisation.

In addition to these critical areas, Government is also providing significant increased funding to other areas including Health.

The enhanced NDP provision for the health sector for 2026 – 2030 is €9.25 billion. Building on a strong track record of infrastructure delivery and significant increases in capital expenditure in recent years, this will further support the delivery of equitable, accessible and high-quality healthcare across Ireland.

The 2026 allocation of €1,560m is a €100m (7%) increase over the 2025 allocation of €1.460m. Overall, there is an average 8% year on year increase in allocation straight-line across the period 2026-2030.

This increased investment for 2026 to 2030 will help manage medium term demographic challenges, be an enabler to provision of a modern and productive health service and will underpin the progression of key strategic reform priorities set out in Sláintecare and sectoral policies and strategies.

The new NDP funding envelope will support the progression of key health sector priorities including:

  • Health digitalisation as a foundational pillar for reform and transformation of the health service. Programmes that will be progressed include the introduction of a National Shared Care Record and continuing to work towards digitalisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems.
  • Winding down the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board in an appropriate manner following the substantial completion of the National Children's Hospital Ireland and the conclusion of the defects notification period under the contract.
  • Progressing the construction of the new National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park.
  • The surgical hub programme.
  • Progressing detailed design and statutory planning for the new elective hospitals programme.
  • Construction of acute projects across the country including progressing and delivery of acute bed capacity projects, trauma services and diagnostic facility projects.
  • The radiation oncology programme.
  • Continued investment in the HIQA community nursing units programme to refurbish existing units for older persons long term residential care to meet HIQA requirements at locations across the country.
  • Commencing the programme for additional public capacity for older persons long-term residential care nationally in line with identified capacity requirements.
  • Continued investment in community care programmes through the country including the Primary Care Programme and Enhanced Community Care Programme.
  • Progressing the programme of multi annual mental health services capital investments including the key priority mental health sites, perinatal care and other community infrastructure.
  • Continued investment in the ambulances, ambulance bases, equipment replacement and projects addressing infrastructural risk across the country.
  • Investment in Climate and sustainability projects.
Taken together, the increased NDP investment for health priorities will support the shared vision of a modern, integrated and patient centred health service across the country with a renewed focus on health outcomes.

As set out in the NDP Review, I, together with officials in my Department, will be working with the HSE and other stakeholders in the coming period to develop a detailed capital plan for this allocated capital funding.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

3179. To ask the Minister for Health the amount provided for regulatory and patient safety standards including risk management, HIQA compliance, maintenance works, and equipment replacement as part of revised NDP allocations.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43760/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Development Plan is the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State.

The enhanced NDP provision for the health sector for 2026 – 2030 is €9.25 billion. Building on a strong track record of infrastructure delivery and significant increases in capital expenditure in recent years, this will further support the delivery of equitable, accessible and high-quality healthcare across Ireland.

This increased investment for 2026 to 2030 will help manage medium term demographic challenges, be an enabler to provision of a modern and productive health service and will underpin the progression of key strategic reform priorities set out in Sláintecare and sectoral policies and strategies.

The new NDP funding envelope will support the progression of key health sector priorities including : continued investment to meet HIQA requirements at locations across the country, continued investment in equipment replacement programme and projects addressing infrastructural risk, including patient safety across the country.

As set out in the NDP review, the Minister and the Department of Health will be working with the HSE and other stakeholders in the coming period to develop a detailed capital plan for this allocated capital funding.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

3180. To ask the Minister for Health the amount provided for digital transformation as part of revised NDP allocations. [43761/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Development Plan is the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State.

The enhanced NDP provision for the health sector for 2026 – 2030 is €9.25 billion. Building on a strong track record of infrastructure delivery and significant increases in capital expenditure in recent years, this will further support the delivery of equitable, accessible and high-quality healthcare across Ireland.

This increased investment for 2026 to 2030 will help manage medium term demographic challenges, be an enabler to provision of a modern and productive health service and will underpin the progression of key strategic reform priorities set out in Sláintecare and sectoral policies and strategies.

The new NDP funding envelope will support the progression of key health sector priorities across the sector and the country including health digitalisation as a foundational pillar for reform and transformation of the health service. Programmes that will be progressed include the introduction of a National Shared Care Record and continuing to work towards digitalisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems.

As set out in the NDP review, the Minister and the Department of Health will be working with the HSE and other stakeholders in the coming period to develop a detailed capital plan for the allocated capital funding.

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