Ireland’s 2026 Budget allocates a record €27.4bn to health, funding 3,300 new staff, extra hospital beds, home support, and digital reforms, while unions warn of ongoing staffing and capacity pressures.
Ireland’s Department of Health is set to receive €27.4 billion in funding under Budget 2026, representing a 6.2% increase on last year. The allocation includes over €25.7 billion in day-to-day spending and €1.5 billion in capital investment. The funding provides for approximately 3,300 additional staff, 220–265 new acute hospital beds, and 1.7 million extra home support hours. A further €173 million is being allocated for new and existing medicines.
According to Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers, the 2026 health allocation will support ongoing structural and operational reforms. These include the decentralisation of services through Regional Health Areas, rostering reforms to extend services to evenings and weekends, and greater investment in digital health systems such as the HSE Health App and a National Shared Care Record. The HSE will also be required to achieve €211 million in cost savings through measures such as improved productivity and reduced reliance on agency staff.
Representative bodies have noted challenges in meeting staffing and capacity demands. The Irish Medical Organisation said the planned increase in acute beds may not be sufficient to address current pressures. At the same time, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation highlighted ongoing vacancies across the public health system.
