Home support hours, reform of GP services in health plan

The Department of Health is to receive over €29bn next year in total funding - its highest allocation.

It means there will be an extra €1.6bn for day-to-day spending next year.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers said this would go towards a number of areas, including an increase in HSE pay.

The additional funding would also go towards additional home support hours to help older people, and improving children's access to dental and orthodontic care.

An extra 1.8 million home support hours will be provided to help people remain at home or leave hospital.

An extra €196m will go towards developing older people's services and €108m for mental health.

An additional €18m is promised next year to develop oral health access.

This is to improve access to oral health and orthodontic services for children, including reducing waiting lists in the School Dental Programme, and commencing an improvement programme for access to more complex dental treatment.

The money will also help to fund the reform of GP services.

Funding of €7m is for the reform of general practice, including improving access to GP out-of-hours services across a number of regions.

There will be over €27.3bn for day-to-day services and €1.7bn for capital developments. It represents an increase of €160m in capital spending.

The staff ceiling for the health service will be set at 139,744.

Access to free contraception will be extended to those up to 37 years. Currently it is free for those aged 17-35.

Health efficiencies will be sought through greater use of theatres, outpatient clinics and diagnostics.

The Department of Health will get extra funding for the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, including new ADHD pathways.

Funding will be provided for 33,000 extra hours of free counselling for men, young people and the LGBTQ+ community, and targeted suicide prevention initiatives for the Traveller community.