Healthcare is an important part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government’s long term, overarching strategy. Investment in healthcare infrastructure is a key enabler to make Ireland a better country for all and to build a more resilient and sustainable future. Project Ireland 2040 combines the National Planning Framework (the vision and strategy) and the National Development Plan (the investment). The Capital Plan, funded from the NDP, provides significant public investment in health infrastructure to meet current need, to cater for an estimated population growth of one million people and to respond to the changing demographic profile in Ireland. It also supports the vision of high quality, safe, accessible and sustainable healthcare, enabled by capital funding. In 2025, investment in healthcare infrastructure, equipment and furnishing of healthcare facilities is €1.357bn from all funding sources.

P.25 Social inclusion works across a range of statutory services in partnership with the community and voluntary sectors to address health inequalities and improve access to health services for vulnerable and excluded groups. This includes services supporting those impacted by addiction and homelessness. In collaboration with the HSE an Inclusion Health Framework is being developed, outlining all aspects of health policy and funding, including capital infrastructure, to enhance access to healthcare services for homeless and other socially excluded groups. This public consultation process, commissioned by the Department of Health will be undertaken by the Inclusion Heath Research Group in University College Cork, to examine where health services can be accessed and will be integral to policy creation within the Department and wider Government.

In 2025, we will:

• Provide €0.6m contribution (€1m overall) for a medically supervised injecting facility at Merchants Quay to support integrated care pathways and harm-reduction responses
• Provide funding to expand addiction care facilities for people experiencing homelessness

[Report provides some details of specific projects related to addiction, or drugs and alcohol]