The budget webpage includes publications, for example: Taxation measures - Tobacco - increase Excise Duty by €0.50 on pack of 20 cigarettes.

Budget 2026 Press conferences on Youtube - Part 4: Health panel at about 6.10 hours.

Alcohol Action Ireland press release: Press release: Freeze in excise duties yet another sweetener to the alcohol industry

DOH Press release:

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD, Minister for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell TD, and the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD have today announced €27.4 billion in funding for health in 2026.

The record allocation of current expenditure represents a €1.5 billion or 6.2% increase on 2025 funding and will enable faster and fairer access to care for everyone in Ireland.

In 2026, there will be a shift to a performance-led model of investment, with all six Health Regions empowered to utilise resources strategically in a way that meets the needs of their communities. Through better deployment of our existing workforce, in particular delivering services on a seven-day basis, and an additional 3,300 whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff in the Health Service Executive (HSE), we can significantly reduce regional disparities in access to care and support the evolution of a more sustainable, efficient health service that responds better to patients’ needs.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “As the state moderates its spending growth, I have secured a budget that will support faster access to quality care, while maximising value for money. We cannot continue to spend more without spending smarter, and Budget 2026 represents a sea-change in how we target our investment. We are striving for increased productivity in all regions, and driving innovation as we develop faster, smarter and safer ways of delivering healthcare.”

Investment in healthcare throughout 2026 will focus on:

• Addressing regional inequity in access and reducing waiting times: This will be achieved through delivery of services on a 5/7 basis, reduced waiting times across all major service areas, expansion of GP out-of-hours services and home support hours and an additional €217 million investment in Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) medicines, including €30 million in new medicines.
• Improving safety and prioritising prevention measures: This will include public health initiatives to increase immunisation and screening uptake, reduce harmful health behaviours, as well as programmes to tackle obesity, frailty, and chronic disease, and a focus on mental health supports and safe staffing levels.
• New capacity and reform: This includes the delivery of new acute hospital, community and virtual beds, new primary care centres, more training places for health professionals, continued development of advanced practice roles, and prioritising community-first care including expansion of the role of pharmacists. It also provides for surgical hub construction and strengthened delivery of virtual health services.
• Productivity and value for money: Driving greater productivity and value for money in our hospital and community settings, for example: more appointments, extended hours for operating theatres, expanded access to diagnostics, and shifting hospital activity to community settings. It will also support increased efficiency through use of digital and Artificial Intelligence system.

Minister Carroll MacNeill added: “This budget emphasises our commitment to maximising the value of every euro invested in health to enhance all areas of service provision. There is a strong focus on expanding community services, with additional staff supporting increased provision of older persons services and mental health supports in line with our commitment to deliver high-quality care as close to home as possible and as a better, more affordable means than in acute hospitals.”

“Our investments will make real tangible differences to patients by reducing wait times for consultations, diagnostic tests or procedures, or by enabling timely treatment for a common ailment from an expert pharmacist through the forthcoming Common Conditions Service.

“When I visit hospitals around the country, I speak with patients, I look at the setting and I ask myself ‘are we meeting the needs of the patients presenting here today?’. We must allow services to adapt to local needs and to plan for our growing and ageing population, ultimately improving health outcomes for all.”

“We must measure our performance not just by health outcomes, but on how our patients are met when they turn up to our health services. As we shift to a performance-led model, I expect all six Health Regions will address the specific needs of their local populations and demonstrate clear improvement in results. This is our path towards a health service that is economically sustainable for the future and a true representation of Sláintecare.”

Mental Health
An additional 300 whole-time equivalent staff will be hired in mental health services in 2026, reflecting the significant need in this area. This represents 9% of the overall growth in health service staffing next year. This record budget will allow for a major focus on improving our response for people in mental health crisis both in hospitals and in the community.

Specialist nursing teams (ANP and CNS) will be placed in the Emergency Departments of all Model 4 hospitals out-of-hours, in addition to the establishment of a new crisis response pathway for children and young people staffed by specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) doctors.

Three new Crisis Resolution Teams with associated ‘drop-in’ crisis cafés will be funded for Donegal, Kerry and the Midlands (Tullamore/Westmeath) as crisis alternatives to Emergency Departments to support those in a mental health crisis. An additional 12 new Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses will be allocated to work with people in distress who present to GP services in communities.

This Budget will also facilitate an increase in bed capacity for mental health services, including the opening and commissioning of 21 CAMHS acute inpatient beds. It will also provide staffing to open 10 new Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit beds at the National Forensic Mental Health Service.

Minister Butler said: “I’m very pleased to have worked closely with Minister Carroll MacNeill to secure an additional 300 staff for our mental health services. A third of these new clinicians will help us to target support to people in a mental health crisis both in our hospitals and in our communities. By placing specialist nursing teams in our Emergency Departments out-of-hours, coupled with the expansion of community alternatives such as crisis resolution teams and crisis cafés, we are fundamentally changing how we respond to the needs of people in distress.

Older Persons
Recognising the change in Ireland’s older population, the Minister for Older People has announced there will be an increase of €215 million for older persons services in 2026, representing over a 7.1% increase on 2025.

Minister O’Donnell said: “The figure includes €82 million in additional funding for home support. Home support is a key priority for Government. It will support more people to access services that help them to live well in their own homes and communities. This funding will provide for an increase of 1.7 million hours to provide for 26.7 million hours of home support for next year.

“€92 million of additional funding will also be allocated to the Fair Deal scheme to support the nursing home sector to expand services and improve quality. It includes providing 500 more people with financial support to access long-term residential care.

“We are also committed to further investment in residential care through the opening of new beds in Community Nursing Units and a new scheme to enhance the resident environment in nursing homes.
“We have secured a substantial €2 million in additional funding for Meals on Wheels services, which is a priority for government. Of great benefit to thousands of older people, this is over a 30% increase in funding on 2025, which currently delivers 2.7 million meals to 18,000 people.

“We have allocated an additional €2.3 million in funding towards improved access to diagnostics and supports for people with dementia.

“This funding includes the National dementia registry, memory assessment and support services, supporting the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland expansion of day care in the community and in the home, and will also see the total number of dementia advisers nationwide increasing to 36.”

Minister O’Donnell also confirmed that a minimum of 22% of all new home support hours will be ringfenced for people with dementia.

Investment in community services for older people will also see targeted expansion of day services, respite for carers and the care and repair scheme.

Public Health and Inclusion Health
Developing a sustainable, future-ready healthcare service requires an increased emphasis on prevention, empowering people to maintain and protect good health. Budget 2026 prioritises public health initiatives to increase immunisation and screening uptake, including programmes to tackle obesity, frailty, and chronic disease.

It also aims to enhance drugs and inclusion health services through an additional €11 million which will address gaps in service provision and expand capacity in residential and community-based treatment facilities.

Minister Murnane O’Connor said: “The money invested in public health initiatives next year will help to lay the foundations for a healthier future for everyone. We must focus on promoting positive health behaviours and protecting young people from harmful pathways, so I’m particularly delighted to have secured €200,000 for a campaign to address vaping rates among young people. Funding to enhance health and wellbeing will also support the implementation of our national sexual health strategy, including funding for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medication as well as measures to address obesity, and increased breastfeeding supports. In line with this Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty I am also supporting the Hot School Meals Programme by increasing the number of Environmental Health Officers to support robust inspections.

“Good health starts even before birth, so I’m pleased to have secured additional funding for initiatives like the Brighter Beginnings programme for Traveller children.

“I’m also determined that geography will not be a barrier to accessing timely, quality care so I am committing to the continued expansion of drug and inclusion health services across all Health Regions, with a particular focus on rural areas. Investment in 2026 will also prioritise those in vulnerable groups, addressing gaps in service provision and supporting more people to enjoy better health outcomes.”

See also, press release: Minister for Mental Health announces major investment in crisis supports and suicide prevention in Budget 2026