Here are the health measures to benefit from a €2.68bn budget increase

Finance Minister Jack Chambers announced an exemption to income tax, capital gains tax and capital acquisitions tax on payments made to women involved in the controversies around CervicalCheck. Picture: Oireachtas TV

The health service has been given a budget of €25.76bn for next year, an increase of €2.68bn spread over two years.

However, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe warned the Government expects better financial planning.

Last year, the initial allocation of €22.5bn was heavily criticised for not meeting patients’ needs, including by HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster in an unusual public intervention. The additional funding for this year and next year was announced in July.

Mr Donohoe announced funding boosts for the various areas of health on Tuesday. The budget share going to hospitals and ambulances remains the largest at 39% compared to 26% for all primary care services despite plans to increase use of community care.

Among the main measures are:

• Funding for 495 additional beds in hospitals and community services; 
• 600,000 additional homecare hours; 
• Funding to support recruiting a net additional 3,346 whole time equivalent (WTE) staff in 2025;
• Free HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to be rolled out; 
• Continued support for IVF infertility services; 
• 6% for mental health services including funding for young people, the Traveller community and targeted suicide prevention;
• Funding to reduce children’s orthodontic dental waiting lists.

Targeted measures for women’s health will see funding for improvements of maternity services, additional breastfeeding supports and post-mastectomy products. 

Some €30m is allocated for the introduction of new drugs. Additional funding will go to strategies including for cancer, stroke, maternity and dementia.

Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, announced an exemption to income tax, capital gains tax and capital acquisitions tax on payments made to women who were impacted by the CervicalCheck scandal.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is expected to provide more detail on the budget on Wednesday.

Sinn Féin raised concerns about the impact of the promised changes. Speaking in the Dáil, Pearse Doherty asked: “Will it fix the healthcare system? No it won’t.”

He mentioned the spiralling cost of the new children’s hospital — now at €2.2bn — as an example of waste in the health services. He also said children with disabilities have been “failed” particularly those with scoliosis and described their plight as “heart-breaking” still.