Minister for Health welcomes publication of the National Development Plan 2021-2030
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 4 October 2021
- Last updated on: 30 November 2021
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has today welcomed the publication of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2030.
The development of the NDP 2021-2030 has been carried out to allow the impact of factors such as COVID-19 and Brexit to be taken account of and to strengthen the alignment with the National Planning Framework, the Climate Action Plan and other developments since the launch of Project Ireland 2040 in 2018.
The ceilings and allocations are outlined in the NDP for a total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. The annual expenditure ceilings are detailed alongside a breakdown of the agreed allocations across each department for the period 2021-2025, with subsequent years to be added on a rolling basis from 2022.
The NDP sets out an integrated programme of investment in our health infrastructure with an allocation to the sector of €5.7bn in the period to 2025. This level of investment demonstrates commitment to the ongoing investment in health infrastructure and reform in line with Sláintecare and is an over 10% increase in funding year on year to 2025.
The National Development Plan continues to be aligned with the delivery of the National Planning Framework and its ten National Strategic Outcomes to deliver on Project Ireland 2040. Since the launch of Project Ireland 2040 in 2018, there has been significant progress in delivering a range of investments throughout the country that support healthier communities and better health outcomes whilst also coping with the enormous impact of COVID-19.
Capital investment has a key role to play in enhancing service provision, ensuring the delivery of high-quality health and social care, and driving the reforms set out in Sláintecare. This includes investment to facilitate reorienting the model of care towards primary and community settings, addressing capacity and infrastructural deficits and investment in eHealth. The NDP 2021-2030 will allow progression of projects that support the delivery of strategic reform and a move towards universal healthcare and build on the positive and innovative changes made to date. The programme of investment will continue to be informed by population trends, developments in healthcare and a strong focus on providing treatment in the most appropriate setting.
There are many significant health capital projects and programmes underway and at various stages of development.
These include:
- the New Children’s Hospital
- projects to provide additional capacity in our hospitals and in elective centres
- deployment of electronic health record systems, investment in technical infrastructure and cyber defences, national, regional and local projects
- the Radiation Oncology Programme in Cork, Dublin and Galway
- projects to progress the National Maternity Strategy
- the Primary Care Centre construction programme
- the Enhanced Community Care Programme
- the replacement and refurbishment of community nursing units for older people and long-term residential care units and housing in the community for people with disabilities
- mental health projects to upgrade and expand facilities through the country
- the national equipment replacement programme, ambulance fleet replacement and minor capital provision to deal with infrastructural risk priorities
In welcoming the review Minister Donnelly said:
"The continued and significant investment in health infrastructure reflected in the NDP 2021-2030 is evidence of the importance that the government places on improving healthcare in Ireland and the implementation of Sláintecare.
"My department will now commence engagement with the HSE on the capital planning process for 2022 and beyond to progress these important projects and programmes."