The Government has announced “a record” €25.8 billion health budget “to support the continued delivery and expansion of quality, affordable healthcare services in 2025”.
According to the Department of Health the funding represents an overall increase of €2.94 billion on the January 2024 allocation.
It will provide for more than 3,300 additional staff, deliver 335 additional hospital beds, “expand services, deliver increased productivity and continue the reductions in waiting lists and trolley numbers”.
The 2025 health budget includes €1.2 billion allocated for existing level of service, €1.5 billion additional funding for 2024 pressures and €335 million in additional new measures.
According to the Government the 2025 budget also includes €33 million investment “to provide more and better cancer services”, publicly funded HRT products for women experiencing symptoms of menopause and extension of publicly funded IVF as part of €35 million measures for women’s healthcare.
On the budget announcement Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said, “whether it’s an appointment with a GP, a home care package for a loved one, an X-ray or MRI, quick access to emergency care or a minor injury unit, an appointment with a hospital consultant or surgery, Budget 2025 is all about making this a reality for more and more patients and families”.
“We are living longer and living better, but our growing and ageing population place additional demands on our services. We continue to respond to these challenges, and we are placing a strong focus on more productivity alongside investment in increased capacity and in workforce planning to ensure we can meet the needs of our healthcare service into the future.”
In response to Budget 2025’s investment in cancer care, Irish Cancer Society CEO, Ms Averil Power said the charity weclomed “the priority given to people affected by cancer in Budget 2025. The investment provided for in this Budget will benefit people with cancer and their families all over the country”.
She added that “hopefully, this is the beginning of a new approach to funding cancer care that will see sustained increases in ringfenced funding for cancer services going forward”.
“With cancer cases expected to double by 2045, continued increases in investment will be required to meet increased demand and ensure that Irish patients benefit from advances in cancer research and services.”
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