Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
276. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the way in which the newly published paper,’ Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce’, will guide long-term workforce planning across the health and social care sectors; the way its evidence-based projections will support the delivery of Programme for Government commitments and Sláintecare 2025+; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4526/26]
View answerIreland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce paper sets out the vision and long-term plan for the health and social care workforce. The paper sets out an evidence-based strategic direction for the health and social care workforce for the next 15 years. It details twenty actions to be taken in the years ahead to address future workforce challenges in addition to building on actions already committed to by Government in recent years. These actions sit under five interconnected pillars; Plan, Build, Optimise Performance, Recruit & Retain and Invest.
The paper builds on the roadmap set out in May 2025 by the Minister for Health in the Path to Universal Healthcare – Sláintecare & Programme for Government 2025+. The Sláintecare Vision is to build capacity, improve access, improve service quality and enable reform.
Planning for a health and social care workforce in Ireland is not only a matter of determining the right numbers required but also requires a vision on the right match between skills available in the workforce and patients’ needs.
The case for an innovative approach and paradigm shift to health and social care workforce planning and policies in Ireland is clear. Planning a health and social care workforce that effectively addresses population needs while ensuring optimal outcomes and cost efficiency is, however, a complex task due to the many interconnected factors at play.
The actions outlined in Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce paper are short, medium and long-term objectives that align with Programme for Government commitments and Sláintecare 2025+. There are challenges and opportunities facing us which means it has never been more important to think about how we plan for the future from a policy point of view. How workforce supply is delivered into the future from the perspective of making sure there is the right type of data available to plan effectively and to build capacity within our system, not through the “As is” approach of just supplying more healthcare workers. There needs to be a two-pronged approach of increasing domestic supply and optimising the workforce.
Reforming our care pathways with a person-centred approach that is built around the patient and staff and exploring strategies to improve healthcare team performance, efficiency and quality of care will bolster our efforts to meet future demand. The future health and social care workforce will need systematic support and continued investment to be effective, equitable and agile to the evolving landscape.
