Budget 2026 — Health Measures

Key Developments in Ireland’s Healthcare System

Budget 2026 includes significant increases in healthcare funding, with a strong focus on improving access to medical services, reducing waiting lists, enhancing primary care, and expanding long-term and community-based support.

The overall priority is to strengthen the health system, expand free services, and improve patient outcomes.

Below are the main Health measures in Budget 2026.

1. Expansion of Free GP Care

Budget 2026 continues the progressive expansion of free access to General Practitioner (GP) services.

Key measures include:

Broader age and income eligibility for free GP visits.

Additional funding for GP practices to accommodate increased patient volumes.

Targeted supports for rural GP clinics.

These measures aim to reduce barriers to primary care and relieve pressure on emergency departments.

2. Reduction of Waiting Lists

A substantial investment package is allocated to reduce hospital and outpatient waiting times:

Increased funding for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

Additional capacity for surgeries and procedures in private hospitals.

Recruitment of extra specialists in priority areas such as ophthalmology, orthopaedics, and cardiology.

Investment in digital tools to streamline waiting list management.

3. Hospital and Healthcare Infrastructure Funding

The Health Service Executive (HSE) receives increased funding for:

hospital construction and modernisation;

expansion of emergency departments;

upgrades of ICU and critical care units;

investment in diagnostic and laboratory equipment;

implementation of electronic health records (EHR) and system-wide digital integration.

These developments align with long-term reforms under Sláintecare.

4. Expansion of Medical Cards and GP Visit Cards

Budget 2026 includes:

expanded eligibility for the Medical Card for lower-income households;

increased income thresholds and simplified assessment procedures;

wider access to GP Visit Cards for families and adults.

5. Mental Health Services

The mental health sector receives strengthened support through:

increased funding for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS);

expansion of adult mental health services;

reinforcement of crisis intervention centres and helplines;

additional resources for school-based mental wellbeing programmes.

6. Long-Term and Community Care

Budget 2026 expands support for community-based and long-term care:

additional Home Support Hours for older people and people with disabilities;

increased funding for nursing homes;

enhanced support for individuals with chronic conditions;

expanded community services to reduce hospital dependency.

7. Women’s Health and Maternity Services

Further investment is directed toward women’s healthcare, including:

expansion of free contraception for additional age groups;

improved prenatal and postnatal care programmes;

enhanced access to screening (cervical, breast, bowel screening).

8. Pharmaceutical and Medicines Support

Measures to reduce medication costs include:

reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold;

expansion of the list of drugs covered by the State;

new procurement models to reduce HSE expenditure;

support programmes for chronic illness management.

9. Ambulance and Emergency Response Services

Investments include:

additional ambulance crews;

modernisation of the ambulance fleet;

improved emergency coverage in rural regions;

continued development of Community First Responder services.

10. Digital Health (eHealth)

Budget 2026 continues the nationwide digital health transformation:

rollout of a universal electronic health record;

integration of diagnostic systems;

digital appointment and referral services;

expansion of telemedicine and virtual consultations.