• Health budget increase will not meet the needs of a growing population and this budget fails to invest in our future

 
Tuesday October 7, 2025. The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has said that Budget 2026 has failed to plan for a future health service that is capable of meeting the needs of a growing and ageing population. 

Given the very significant deficits in bed capacity, which is a direct cause of persistent and dangerous levels of overcrowding in our Emergency Departments and long waiting lists for care, it is simply not credible to suggest that 220 new acute beds will be enough. 

It is notable that in 2025 despite promises of an additional 215 beds, only one was delivered by the end of August this year. While the 96 beds due imminently in Limerick are welcome, this still falls far short of what is actually required.

No additional investment has been targeted to General Practice despite the evidence that structured care for patients in the GP setting will reduce presentations and admission to hospitals. 

This Budget is not delivering on the promises of Sláintecare and the Government should be honest with the public that services will not improve. Talking of record health budgets is nothing more than a smokescreen masking the real problems around capacity and workforce deficits. 

For the Government to suggest that productivity and rostering measures will be the solution is disingenuous – productivity in healthcare is about more than numbers of patients seen; it is about delivering quality healthcare and improving health outcomes.

Speaking today, Dr Anne Dee, President of the IMO, said: “Budget 2026 has unfortunately failed to deliver the funding and planning needed to cater for a growing and ageing population. Any commentary around record levels of funding for the health service ignores our demographic reality, as well as the cost of new medical and therapeutic interventions.”

She said the Government had missed several opportunities to make a real difference. “It is regrettable that the Government has not addressed the growing problem of health inequality in this country, which should be examined as a matter of urgency by a cross-departmental group.”