Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
976. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the details of her Departments plans on keeping up with predicted rising demographics in stroke rate; the way in which the €13 million allocated in 2022 has been used to ensure that services are care-ready for those in need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17237/26]
View answerThe HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 aims to modernise and reform stroke services in line with Sláintecare policy and address the challenges facing Ireland from population ageing and the predicted increase in the total number of strokes right across Europe, including Ireland. The strategy provides a blueprint for investment in stroke services over the five-year period from 2022 to 2027.
Recent modelling by the RCSI found that as it stands, new cases of stroke are expected to rise by 28% over the next two decades. Alternative scenarios predict that cases could rise by up to 59% or be mitigated to as low as 5% depending on our national efforts to prevent the rise in incidence. The predicted increase in stroke is owing to our ageing demography but also the presence of significant preventable risk factors for stroke across the population including obesity, high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation.
This government is fully committed to supporting improvements and advances in stroke services and will build on the €13.5m in funding allocated to the Strategy since its publication in 2022.
The funding allocated to the National Stroke Strategy to date has enabled significant new developments. Key achievements since 2022 include:
• The expansion of the GP Contract to include opportunistic case finding of High Blood Pressure for those with a GMS/GP visit card. This contract is now in place, and the service commenced in Q1 2024. This measure initially applied to over 45-year-olds but has now been expanded to include those 18 years and over and is an important preventive measure to curb the expected rise in stroke cases over the next two decades.
• The recruitment of 12 posts in 2023, to support acute stroke units, endovascular thrombectomy centres, and Early Supported Discharge (ESD) teams.
• Progress has been made in early stroke rehabilitation with the expansion of our Early Supported Discharge (ESD) teams from 6 to 13. Our target is to have 21 ESD teams nationally and it is envisaged that 15 teams will be operational by Q1 2026.
• Thrombectomy rates have grown year on year since the service commenced and are approximately 10% in Ireland, nearly three times the rate reported in the UK, reflecting Ireland’s success in this area.
• Bespoke projects in secondary prevention and rehabilitation, carried out by the Cork Stroke Support Centre and Croí have also been funded. These align with relevant areas in the strategy as well as providing support to survivors in remote regions of the country.
• On September 9th, 2025, the HSE launched a new national TV, radio and digital campaign called ‘Every Second Counts’. The campaign reinforces knowledge and understanding of stroke symptoms while focusing on the importance of contacting emergency services immediately when a stroke is suspected. It is envisaged that this measure will increase the number of people attending emergency Departments within the crucial 4.5 hour window for the most effective treatments and the impact of the campaign will be measured by the national stroke audit.
• In Budget 2025, a total of €5.0m was allocated to the Strategy. This funding will enable the recruitment of 56 new posts to support the expansion of early supported discharge teams and access to acute stroke units to support stroke services through the provision of additional consultants, psychologists and a range of health and social care professionals. As of December 2025, approximately 80% of these posts have been recruited
• Separately in Budget 2025, €600,000 has been allocated to support the Irish Heart Foundation Stroke Connect service. This service complements hospital services by supporting survivors of stroke when they are discharged, helping them make lifestyle changes to self-manage their condition and giving them a better chance of leading an independent life. The Irish National Audit of Stroke 2024/25 found that 96% of acute stroke units refer patients onto this service.
• In addition, following the success of a recent swallow screening quality improvement initiative, swallow screening rates have increased from 68% in 2021 to 81% in 2024 demonstrating the significant impact of initiatives like these that can be made with minimal investment.
Priorities for 2026 include improving Acute Stroke Unit access and further roll out of our ESD team network.
I remain fully committed to making further progress on implementing the stroke strategy and will continue to work with the HSE to ensure its successful implementation to further reduce mortality from stroke, as well as supporting survivors of stroke to live as independently as possible in their communities.
