Minister for Health approves publication of HSE's Capital Plans

The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has today approved the publication of the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Building and Equipment Capital Plan 2026 and the HSE Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026. The investment set out in these plans demonstrates the Government's commitment to improved services, increased productivity, and strategic reform in our health service.

The publication follows the completion of the National Development Plan (NDP) review in July 2025 which provided the largest ever investment in public health infrastructure in the State. Following this, the publication of the NDP Review 2025 Sectoral Investment Plan for Health 2026-2030 in November 2025 sets out the strategic infrastructure and digital health priorities over the next five years.

The 2026 HSE Capital Plans are strategically focused on enhancing our health service's physical and digital infrastructure. Capital investment in 2026 will increase systemic resilience by advancing a range of acute and community projects nationally, enabling integrated care, progressing Sláintecare, and expanding system capacity in both built and digital environments.

The capital funding in the HSE Capital Plan for Building and Equipment 2026 is €1,327 million and €263 million in the HSE Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026.

Capital investment in 2026 will enable the HSE to progress Government priority projects, including:

• Completion of the construction of National Children's Hospital Ireland
• Progressing the National Maternity Hospital relocation to Elm Park
• Continued construction of additional acute capacity including bed capacity
• Completion of new surgical hubs at Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, and North Dublin and advancing surgical hubs in Sligo and Letterkenny
• Progressing development of Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, in Galway, Cork, and Dublin
• Progressing the design at the six mental health priority sites
• Investment in community care capacity including progressing the HIQA community nursing units (CNUs) programme and advancing additional community bed capacity projects
• Progressing social inclusion healthcare infrastructure
• Investing in infrastructure risk, replacement of equipment, ambulance renewal, climate projects, and essential infrastructure upgrades
• Investing in Digital Health to progress projects including:
  • the HSE Health App
  • the National Shared Care Record
  • Electronic Health Records (EHR)
  • ePharmacy comprising ePrescribing and Hospital Medicines Management
  • Virtual Care, Telehealth, and Remote Monitoring
  • Expanding the National Finance Management System (IFMS), the National Staff Records and Payroll System (NiSRP), and eRostering
  • AI and Automation initiatives (Clinical, Operations, Research and Innovation and Public Health)
  • Core ICT infrastructure and strengthening cyber resilience.

Capital investment in 2026 supports the vision of high quality, safe, accessible and sustainable healthcare, while addressing regulatory requirements. These targeted investments will provide the strong foundations required to support healthy communities while we transform healthcare delivery by providing the right care, in the right place at the right time.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

"Our investment plans for healthcare in 2026 will bring real benefits to people across the country. We're investing €1.327 billion into new buildings and equipment, showing the Government's ongoing commitment to better healthcare and increased capacity.

"We're also investing €263 million in digital health reforms in 2026 which will drive implementation and expansion of the National Electronic Health Record and the HSE app.

"By expanding capacity and building the right physical and digital infrastructure, both in hospitals and in communities, we are advancing the Sláintecare vision to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time."

Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health Mary Butler said:

"The investment set out in the Capital Plan for 2026 reaffirms our commitment to deliver improved mental health infrastructure in line with national mental health policy.

"This year's plan prioritises the development of the Perinatal Mental Health Unit for new mothers, specialist Eating Disorder beds for adults, and the progression of six priority Acute Mental Health Units around the country.

"There has never been more momentum behind transforming the mental health capital estate, with unprecedented levels of funding being made available to the HSE.

"This investment will ensure people experiencing mental illness will access services in safe, therapeutic, and recovery-focused environments."

Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, Kieran O'Donnell said:

"Older Persons' Services are central to strengthening community care through an integrated model that supports older adults at home and in the community.

"The investment set out in the HSE Building and Equipment Capital Plan and Digital for Care Capital Plan for 2026 will support the development of Older Persons' Services facilities and will increase capacity across the country to help meet the needs of a growing older population."

Minister of State of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said:

"This investment will support our community services and the development of social inclusion across the country, reducing health inequalities and improving access to healthcare for all, including vulnerable and marginalised groups. It will enable the development of facilities that can support people across the life course, to enjoy improved health and wellbeing."

Notes

The HSE Building and Equipment Capital Plan 2026 and the HSE Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026 are available here.

Highlights include:

Capital Plan 2026

• Completing the National Children's Hospital Ireland and progressing the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to the Elm Park campus.
• Acute hospital projects including additional bed capacity, critical care capacity, and diagnostics through the country.
• Completion of construction of Surgical Hubs at Cork (CUH), Galway (Merlin Park), Waterford, Limerick and Dublin (Swords).
• Progressing development of Surgical Hubs in Sligo and Letterkenny
• Progressing development of Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, in Dublin, Cork and Galway
• Primary Care Programme including the building and equipping of new centres across the country
• Accommodation for the Enhanced Community Care Programme
• Community Nursing Units including refurbishment to HIQA standards throughout the country
• Mental health facilities including the six priority sites, CAMHS units and acute mental health units across the country
• Investment in infrastructure and facilities at designated cancer centres to optimise cancer prevention, treatment, education and research
• Investment in Trauma and rehabilitation projects
• Progressing social inclusion healthcare infrastructure
• Investment in equipment replacement and infrastructural risk projects, replacement ambulance programme and ambulance bases
• Investment in Climate Action and sustainability projects
• ICT Enterprise WiFi enablement.

Digital For Care Capital Plan

• HSE Health App/ National Patient App updates
• National Shared Care Record
• National Children's Hospital Ireland Electronic Health Record (CHI EHR) and associated infrastructure and systems
• The National Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Acceleration of WiFi access across all healthcare facilities for staff and patients
• Progress AI and automation initiatives
• Procurement of the National Electronic prescribing solution
• Deployment of National Financial Management System (IFMS) and National Staff Records and Payroll System (NiSRP) to the voluntary healthcare sector
• Continued deployment of national, regional and local IT solutions such as the Hospital Medications Management System (HMMS)
• Investment in new and replacement core ICT infrastructure