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Minister Donohoe publishes Health and Housing analytical papers

The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD has today, Tuesday, published three analytical papers drafted by his Departmental officials; International Comparisons of Irish Healthcare Expenditure, One-off Housing in Ireland: Trends and State Funding Supports and Review of Strategic Housing Developments. In line with strategic goals to build capacity, these publications contribute to evidence informed policy making.

These papers have been developed by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) staff working in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Today’s publications provide valuable insights across key policy areas, and support the goal of the Department of evidence informed policy making.

International Comparisons of Irish Healthcare Expenditure

Since 2019, Government expenditure on healthcare has increased by €7.7 billion (51%), and staffing has increased by over 28,000 or over a fifth.

Minister Donohoe said:

"This paper provides insights into Irish healthcare funding by presenting comparisons with health expenditure across 43 OECD and EU countries. A range of expenditure indicators show that Ireland’s healthcare system is well-funded relative to other OECD and EU countries. Despite our relatively young population Ireland spends as much on healthcare per capita as significantly older countries".

Key indicators show that:

  • 1. The Irish economy, when the GNI* metric is used, spends a particularly high proportion of national income on the healthcare sector, significantly above the OECD and EU average;
  • 2. Ireland’s per capita expenditure on healthcare was at $5,861 (PPP) in 2021. This is 28% above the OECD and EU average of $4,587 (PPP);
  • 3. Ireland has the second highest proportion of healthcare funding as a share of overall government spending across 43 OECD and EU countries; and
  • 4. In 2022, 77 cents of every euro spent on healthcare was government funding, a higher figure than the average across 43 OECD and EU states. This is evidence of a move away from private funding of healthcare in keeping with the goals of Sláintecare.

Productivity, efficiency and maximising value for money will have to come increasingly central to health funding discussions in Ireland over the coming years.

One-off Housing in Ireland: Trends and State Funding Supports

This analytical note examining one-off housing patterns in Ireland focuses on understanding trends since the economic downturn and how one-off housing has evolved compared to other housing typologies. It also explores the range of different State supports available to individuals and households of one-off housing units and those wishing to self-build home. The illustrative case studies presented in this paper highlight the range and scale of State subsidies available to households for a one-off housing unit – potentially ranging up to €100,000. (See page 22).

Minister Donohoe said:

"Overall this notes seeks to provide a greater evidence base around the State’s role in supporting housing supply and how best to leverage that role going forward in the context of significant growth in urban populations and broader objectives for sustainable development, compact growth and climate mitigation goals".

Review of Strategic Housing Developments

This note is a continuation of research carried out by Reidy and Breen (2022) which explored trends in Local Authority planning applications between 2012 and 2021 and discussed their potential significance for existing housing supply indicators with a particular focus on the growth in un-commenced planning permissions since 2018. Utilising data gathered from Strategic Housing Development (SHD) case details listed on the An Bord Pleanála (ABP) website, this note summarises the activity that has occurred through the Strategic Housing Development process from September 2017 to August 2022. Econometric models are applied to examine the extent to which application specific characteristics impact the probability of SHD permissions commencing construction, with a view to developing the evidence base on the relationship between regulatory conditions and the supply of residential dwellings in Ireland.

Minister Donohoe said

"The note, in examining the factors impacting on the progression of Strategic Housing Developments, provides valuable insights to inform policy in respect of the regulatory processes for residential developments".

ENDS