In 2017, the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare in Ireland published the Sláintecare report which set out a new vision for the future of healthcare in Ireland –a universal health and social care service where everyone has equitable access to services based on need, and not ability to pay— where patients can expect the Right Care, at the Right Place, at the Right Time.

P.28 Public Health, Prevention, Health Promotion, & Social Inclusion
The Healthy Ireland Programme focuses on health promotion and ‘prevention’ measures designed to support healthy living and reduce the four major behavioural risk factors for chronic disease, namely tobacco and excessive alcohol use, inactivity and obesity. The Healthy Ireland Framework and subsequent Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, 2021–2025, set out the roadmap to supporting good health and wellbeing, improved access to services, healthy environments, improved resilience and ensuring that everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential. The process of reviewing the Framework has concluded, and a public consultation in Q1 2026 will inform the drafting of its successor. It is intended that a successor Framework will be launched in Q4 2026. Significant progress was made in 2025. [See p.28-29 for figures on smoking, e-cigarette usage and alcohol use]

P.40 Social Inclusion
Socially excluded groups including people who are homeless, Traveller and Roma communities, international protection applicants, and people who use drugs/alcohol can often face barriers in accessing healthcare and services. The health status of this group is further compounded by the social determinants of health they face. The following targeted measures have been designed to support socially excluded groups:
• The Inclusion Health Framework.
• Social determinants of health for Travellers.
• Refugee and migrant health partnership.
• Health diversion scheme for people in possession of drugs for personal use.

P.41 Health Diversion Scheme for people in possession of drugs for personal use A draft Health Diversion Scheme has been devised by the Department of Health, Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána. This scheme is under consideration with a view to enabling members of An Garda Síochána make referrals to health services in the circumstances as set out in the scheme. With regard to health service delivery, the HSE has advised that the recruitment of Support, Ask and Assist, Offer Assistance and Refer (SAOR) Practitioners to support the operationalisation of the Health Diversion Scheme is complete.

P.73 Creating a Culture of Innovation Progress 2025:
In 2025, 16 projects which were funded under Rounds 2 and 3 of the fund completed their “proof of concept” phase. 8 new projects were approved for funding under SIIF Round 4 and they will be operationalised in 2026. The projects are aligned to the Programme for Government or Ministerial priorities and to Sláintecare Reform priorities, as set out in Path to Universal Healthcare: Sláintecare and Programme for Government 2025+. Specifically, the approved projects fit within one of the following categories:
• Improving Service Quality in Mental Health and Social Inclusion services -reduction in suicide and self-harm, and drug and alcohol use (recovery and harm reduction)...