Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2025
330. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the specific funding allocated to the implementation of Sláintecare; if a ring-fenced budget has been provided to implement ‘Path to Universal Healthcare: Sláintecare and Programme for Government 2025+’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35056/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to producing an updated series of costings for Sláintecare; if her Department has carried out work to revise the costings originally provided for in appendix three of the 2017 Sláintecare report produced by the Committee on the Future of Healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35057/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together.
On 14 May, 2025 I published Path to Universal Healthcare: Sláintecare & Programme for Government 2025+ (Sláintecare 2025+).
Sláintecare 2025+ sets out an integrated and whole of system reform programme to be implemented over the period 2025–2027, recognising that some of these reforms will continue over a longer timeframe.
Sláintecare 2025+ comprises 23 individual Sláintecare Projects and the milestones to be achieved on the path to achieving universal healthcare across three priority areas:
• Improve access
• Improve service quality
• Increase capacity
Underpinning the delivery of Sláintecare projects across these three areas, are critical enabling reform programmes. These are designed to transform the delivery of health and social care services through digital transformation and innovation with an increased focus on achieving greater levels of productivity. The new HSE Health Regions is a particular enabling reform that will reorganise the overall health and social care service to one better aligned to meet the specific needs of the population.
Sláintecare 2025+ is designed to address challenges in the health service and builds on the progress made in implementing successive Programmes for Government and Sláintecare Implementation Strategies between 2018 and 2024. It is an ambitious and multifaceted programme designed to move Ireland towards a universal healthcare service. It has been developed following extensive stakeholder engagement and under the direction and oversight of the Sláintecare Programme Board.
Delivery of Sláintecare 2025+ is a core focus of the work of Department of Health and the HSE, and funding for Sláintecare is embedded within the overall Health Vote allocation, rather than being allocated a separate ring-fenced budget. The investment of €24.3 billion in Budget 2025 in Ireland’s Health and Social Care Services is the highest allocation of funding to the health service in the history of the state. The Government is fully committed to the continued delivery of Sláintecare reform and to the Sláintecare vision of a universal health and social care system where everyone has equitable access to services based on their need, and not on their ability to pay.
The Sláintecare Programme Board, established in 2021, is co-chaired by the Secretary-General of the Department of Health (DoH) and Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and provides senior official interagency strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for delivery of the Sláintecare reform programme. The Board ensures overall coherence in the design and delivery Sláintecare 2025+, the associated alignment of constituent programme elements and stakeholders.
The Sláintecare Implementation Progress Report 2024 was published last month. It shows that the reform measures taken so far are making a positive impact on patient’s lives. It presents the work undertaken to deliver foundational long-term change that will significantly enhance overall capacity and will deliver patient-centred care. The report highlights significant achievements made in improving access, affordability building capacity and improving service quality.
