Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
785. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the assessment that has been carried out of consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist staffing levels and midwifery staffing levels in Irish maternity services compared with international benchmarks; whether the next National Maternity Strategy will include specific staffing and continuity-of-care targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51238/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaternity care in Ireland is provided in line with the National Maternity Strategy, Creating a Better Future Together, 2016 - 2026.
The Strategy is built around the principle of woman-centred care.
Since 2016, €28 million has been invested in new development funding through the National Maternity Strategy, transforming our maternity services for women, babies, and families. This investment forms part of an overall €80 million invested across our maternity and gynaecology services since the start of the strategy.
This investment has provided for the recruitment of over 567 additional full time equivalent health professionals including 390.5 additional nurses and midwives and 44 additional consultants.
Proposals to progress an external, independent evaluation of the Strategy in its final year have been approved. This evaluation will provide objective, evidence-based recommendations for future policy and reform in Maternity Services.
In addition to this independent evaluation the Department will also draw on work to evaluate the Birthrate Plus model.
Recommendation 6 of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery focuses specifically on midwifery workforce planning and the implementation and evaluation of the Birthrate Plus model as the national standard to determine clinical midwifery staffing levels.
The Department of Health is finalising arrangements to commission an independent evaluation to examine the effectiveness of Birthrate Plus and Birthrate Plus Acuity.
In the context of the Programme for Government 2025 commitment to develop a successor strategy, the findings of this evaluation will provide a robust evidence base to inform future midwifery workforce planning.
The National Doctors Training Programme (NDTP) published a report, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Medical Workforce in Ireland 2025–2040: An Expert Informed Review in January 2026. This report was developed by NDTP in collaboration with the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme.
This report presents data on the obstetrics and gynaecology consultant workforce across the health service, although it does not separately identify the whole-time equivalent (WTE) of consultants working exclusively in maternity services. The report also includes an international comparison of the consultant obstetrics and gynaecology workforce.
This report will also be considered as part of the development of the successor to the National Maternity strategy.
