HSE budget to increase by €3.5bn for 2021

HSE Chief Paul Reid said: "The need to adapt our services urgently to the requirements imposed by the pandemic has led to some rapid changes. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

The HSE budget for 2021 will see an increase of €3.5bn bring the total budget to €20,623bn as the healthcare system continues to reckon with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Around half of this increase (€1.68bn) will go towards Covid-19 spending while the remaining €1.8bn will go towards non-Covid care.