The recently announced Irish Budget 2026 is set to deliver record funding of €27.4 billion, driving staffing, capacity and activity with this 6.2% increase in funding on that of 2025.
But what do these renewed commitments mean for healthcare recruitment?
Updates Driving Job Creation
- Increased Workforce Investment
Budget 2026 has allocated funds for the provision of an additional 3,300 HSE staff across the service, which may necessitate a broad and varied range of professionals across disciplines, including doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants, but also a wide range of allied health professionals too.
- Expansion of Service Capacity
Funding is also being allocated to support the expansion of service capacity and delivery of patient care, which, with successful delivery on this commitment, would see the addition of 220 acute hospital beds and a further 280 community beds across the country, creating a demand for both hospital and community-based healthcare workers.
- Delivery of Home Care Services
Home care has also been accounted for in the most recent budget, receiving an increase of €215 million, 7% on that of 2025, with the aim of delivering an additional 1.7 million home care hours next year, which we could expect to drive demand for home care workers, caregivers, and related support staff.
- Nursing Home Care
The Fair Deal Scheme will receive an additional €92 million in funding in a bid to support the nursing home sector for the improvement of the quality of care and services, in addition to a further 500 more people receiving financial support to access long-term residential care.
- Reducing Waiting Times
Budget 2026 seeks to reform waiting times through the delivery of health services on a 5/7 basis, which could quickly become a key source of opportunity for healthcare staffing and recruitment to fulfil the extension of services and service hours.
- Mental Health Care Remains a Priority
A further 300 WTE staff are to be recruited for mental health services next year, with a focus on placing professionals in both hospital and community settings, responding to and caring for those in crisis.
Implications for Healthcare Recruitment:
- Demand for Healthcare Professionals Set to Continue: With an overarching goal of Budget 2026 focusing on the expansion of service capacity and delivery, demand for healthcare workers will remain, and may surge into next year.
- Prevalence of Varying Disciplines & Professions: Calls for a greater push to reduce reliance on hospitals could heighten demand for specialist and allied health roles, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and community-based practitioners.
- Community and Home-Focused Care: Opportunities for healthcare roles may become more commonplace with a significant investment in Budget 2026 into community care, providing more options for healthcare professionals seeking work outside of the traditional hospital environment.
- Caring for an Ageing Population: Showing no signs of slowdown, the continued growth of an ageing population in Ireland calls for greater funding, and the addition of 500 more beds as a result of the Fair Deal investment may lend its hand to long-term opportunities in nursing home care.
Budget 2026 brings some notable investments to the sector, with the possibility of new opportunities for healthcare professionals across varying sectors and disciplines.
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