Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has said that Budget 2025 includes funding for a range of new measures that will increase access, affordability and capacity in the health service.
These include the introduction of 495 new beds to health services across hospital and community services, bringing the total number of beds to over 18,000, as well as 600,000 additional home support hours.
Provision has also been made in the health budget for an extra net 3,346 staff to be employed in the health system next year.
The expansion of emergency departments in five hospitals is also planned.
The minister also announced continued support for women's health measures, including increased access to IVF and Hormone Replacement Therapy free of charge.
He also said the Budget includes funding to facilitate the continued development and enhancement of mental health services.
The minister said new funding in Budget 2025 will enable enhanced provision of services including youth mental health services, counselling for the Traveller community, suicide bereavement counselling, the Cyber Safe Kids initiative and additional children and adolescent mental health services.
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An extra €30m is being provided for new drugs next year in the Budget.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) said that arising from this allocation as many as 3,700 patients could benefit from access to new advanced treatments.
It said that IPHA members expect to make applications next year for 36 new medicines to be covered in the public health system.
