Overview of the new Health Geographies

This page provides an overview of the new health geography hierarchy used across the health system. It outlines how to access boundary files, explains why these geographies matter, and shows how the different levels fit together.

You can see a full map of each of the new health geographies below:

All geographies are hierarchical. Just as counties nest within provinces, and provinces nest within the country, the new health geographies nest within each other. This nested structure is illustrated below:

The new health geographies are on the “spine.” These are the geographies that are on the centreline, starting with “HSE Health Regions.” These geographies nest perfectly within each other, from CSO Small Areas up to the HSE Health Regions.

Geographies that are “off-spine” do not nest within the hierarchical structure of the new health geographies.

CSO Small Areas are the smallest level of geography you can get basic demographic data for, such as total population by age, sex, and race. The CSO release Census data at this level, known as Small Areas Population Statistics (SAPS). Therefore, CSO Small Areas are used as the 'building blocks' of official geographies.

The below table describes each of these geographies in better detail:

The below video illustrates how the new health geographies nest within each other - showing the SA, CHN, CST, IHA and HSE Health Region that Miesian Plaza (Department of Health) lies in.

In collaboration with the CSO, we have released a dedicated PxStat product that maps Census 2022 indicators to the updated health geography hierarchy. This includes:

• HSE Health Regions
• Integrated Health Areas (IHAs)
• Community Specialist Teams (CSTs)
• Community Health Networks (CHNs)

These tables provide a consistent and accessible foundation for analysing population characteristics across the new health geography structures.

You can access the product here: https://data.cso.ie/product/dhg

The 44 tables cover a wide range of Census 2022 themes, including:

• Demographic profiles
• Households and families
• Education and labour market
• Disability and caring
• Health‑related variables
• Migration and Ethnicity
• Socio-Economic Group

There is a table for each geography level, and you can filter by variables such as age and sex. These tables can be downloaded in multiple formats (CSV, Excel, JSON, API).

The CSO have released a new feature on PxStat which allows users to map the data within PxStat and then download the map as a PNG file. Simply click on the 'Map' tab and click on the variables you are interested from the dropdown menus on the left. When you are happy with the visualisation, you can download it using the Download button.

The boundary files and lookup table for the new health geographies have been published on Tailte Éireann’s GeoHive; Ireland’s National Geospatial Data Hub. A full list of all health geographies can be viewed here.

For each geography level, there are two files available:

1. An ungeneralised boundary file: these are built from CSO Small Areas 2022 ungeneralised boundaries and are the best possible resolution available for these boundaries. These are large files.

2. A 20m generalised boundary file: these are built from CSO Small Areas 2022 generalised 20m and boundary representation is indicative only – recommended for mapping and visualisation use. These are smaller sized files.

A full lookup Table (Health Geographies (2025) – CSO lookup) has also been published which will allow users to aggregate Small Area data, such as Census data, to each of the health geography levels. These can be accessed through the Health Category in the GeoHive – Data Catalogue, and added to the Map in the GeoHive Map Viewer. Codes have been included in the files which reflect the nesting structure of the geographies.

As we all know, open data is important because it promotes transparency, supports innovation, and empowers people to make informed decisions by providing free access to valuable information. It enables collaboration, improves public services, and drives research, and civic engagement.

Making these standardised boundary files publicly available allows stakeholders - including researchers, policymakers, and the public - to understand how health services are organised and delivered, and allows for analysis to be carried out at these geography levels. Analysts can overlay them with other datasets (e.g., population demographics, disease incidence, or socioeconomic indicators). They also facilitate integration with other geographic information systems (GIS) and health information systems, improving interoperability across agencies.

CSO health geography profile tool: https://edprofiles.cso.ie/2022/health/