This National Service Plan (NSP) 2026 has been prepared in line with the five pillars of our HSE Corporate Plan 2025-2027 and the Programme for Government. It reaffirms our commitment that wherever people live in Ireland, they will increasingly have equitable timely access to high-quality care.

P.21 Reduce inequalities in health and improving access to services for under-served groups
1. National Drugs Strategy: Continue to expand initiatives aimed at supporting those with drug-related problems and implement the 2026 actions of the successor strategy
2. People who are experiencing homelessness: Expand access to integrated care and case management for 800 individuals experiencing homelessness who have no supports in place, bringing the total number to 4,500
3. Medical complex cases: Provide an additional 18 residential treatment beds in Cuan Dara and increase the capacity of the homeless health and addiction care facility in Usher’s Island by 12 beds to meet growing demand...

P.22 In 2026...100% of substance users under the age of 18 will start treatment within one week of assessment (3% increase).

P.73 Right Care, Right Place, Right Time - indicators
Substance Use
% of substance users (over 18 years) for whom treatment has commenced within one calendar month following assessment 
% of substance users (under 18 years) for whom treatment has commenced within one week following assessment
Problem Alcohol Use
% of problem alcohol users (over 18 years) for whom treatment has commenced within one calendar month following assessment
% of problem alcohol users (under 18 years) for whom treatment has commenced within one week following assessment
Homeless Services
% of new individual homeless service users admitted to Supported Temporary Accommodations (STA), Private Emergency Accommodations (PEA), and / or Temporary Emergency Accommodations (TEA) during the quarter whose health needs have been assessed within two weeks of admission
% of new individual homeless service users admitted to Supported Temporary Accommodations (STA), Private Emergency Accommodations (PEA), and / or Temporary Emergency Accommodations (TEA) during the quarter whose health needs have been assessed and are being supported to manage e.g. their physical / general health, mental health and / or addiction issues as part of their care / support plan

P.70 Opioid Agonist Treatment
Mean time in clinics from referral to assessment for opioid agonist treatment
Mean time in clinics from opioid agonist assessment to treatment commenced
P.81 Social Inclusion - Opioid Agonist Treatment
No. of clients in receipt of opioid agonist treatment (outside prisons) 
Needle Exchange - No. of unique individuals attending pharmacy needle exchange*** 

P.66 Health and Wellbeing - Tobacco
% of smokers on cessation programmes who were quit at four weeks
% of smokers engaging with HSE Stop Smoking Services and using recommended Stop Smoking Medicines
P.76 Environmental Health - No. of initial tobacco sales and / or nicotine inhaling product sales to minors test purchase inspections carried out
P.78 Health and Wellbeing - Tobacco
No. of smokers who received face to face or telephone intensive cessation support from a HSE trained and accredited stop smoking advisor
No. of smokers who are receiving online cessation support services 
P.79 Healthy Communities – Prevention and Early intervention - No. of inspections of e-cigarette and refill container manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers under E.U. (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016

P.18 Minimise the risk from environmental factors through enforcement and regulation
1. Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023: Commence implementation of the annual licensing provisions of the Act
2. National Environmental Health statutory programmes: Maintain and deliver regulatory programmes of inspection, surveillance, sampling and investigation on a risk-assessed and inter-agency basis, where appropriate, in relation to food safety, sunbeds, alcohol, port health, cosmetic products, tobacco, e-cigarettes and import and export controls