Budget 2026 wishlist from the healthcare sector

RIGHT across the health system, there are a variety of issues which patients and people working in the sector in Cork are looking to see addressed in Budget 2026.

Prof Conor Deasy, clinical director of emergency and acute care at Cork University Hospital (CUH), told The Echo that the delivery of additional beds, along with adequate staffing numbers for hospitals such as CUH, is something that he would like to see addressed in the upcoming budget.

“This would be my number one priority in any budget at the moment. Because Ireland is well behind when you compare us to the OECD with our number of beds.

“That then causes us to have patients being kept on corridors in emergency departments.

“That delay in patients going to a ward bed is associated with, not only indignity and with risk for the patient, but it is actually associated with increased deaths and increased mortality.”

Mr Deasy added there are a number of other areas that can be addressed to take the pressure off the hospital system through Budget 2026.

“Investment in offside rehabilitation that is fit for purpose and that is fit for the patients that need it.

“This is not about just having a bed, but having the therapy staff to support the patient in that bed.

“Similarly, there are patients with complex dementia that need to have added supports that are presently only able to be managed in acute hospitals, which is inappropriate.”

Speaking to The Echo Dr John Sheehan, a GP in Blackpool and Fianna Fáil city councillor, outlines the main issues which he feels doctors and GPs want addressed in Budget 2026.

“I certainly think funding towards disability services, particularly for children that are waiting for assessments, is really important.

“Also, in terms of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), particularly for funding for areas such as Jigsaw and supports.

“So that other forms of counselling are put in place and they may not have to wait a particular time for CAMHS.

“The other thing I would like to see is increased homecare support. That is because as our elderly are living longer, there is an increased need for that.

“I would like to see more public health nursing, I think that is a fantastic service. All of those sort of things really do make a big difference.

“If you can avoid someone going to A&E, that makes a big difference for the patient and for the healthcare system.”

Dr Sheehan added that he also would like to see the Government look at some supports for GPs in rural areas in this budget.

“I think it is really important, that we can attract doctors to serve people in isolated areas.” he added.

In its pre-budget 2026 submission, among the proposals the Irish College of GPs is calling for include the establishment of a National GP clinical lead for integrated care.

They are also calling for sustained investment in a primary care workforce and infrastructure, to facilitate the implementation of Sláintecare 2025+, and the development of a connected e-health record system.

Fintan Foy, CEO of the Irish College of GPs, said in relation to Budget 2026 that general practice is the cornerstone of the health system.

“To deliver on the promise of Sláintecare, we must invest in the people and systems that make primary care work.

“That means supporting GPs with modern infrastructure, digital tools, and a workforce strategy that addresses the urgent gaps in rural and underserved communities.”

Meanwhile, in its pre-budget submission, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is calling for adequate funding to expand workforce capacity.

The RCPI is also calling for support for Ireland’s obligations under the WHO Global Code of Practice on the international recruitment of health personnel.

It is also calling for funding to support additional consultant posts, specialist medical training places and targeted investment to increase acute hospital beds, along with long-term community care supports and facilities.

Another area which Corkonians will be hoping for significant investment in, is the area of mental health.

Mental Health Reform, Ireland’s leading national coalition of organisations campaigning to transform mental health and wellbeing supports in Ireland, is calling for an extra investment of €200m in Budget 2026 to fix long waiting lists and build a better mental healthcare system.

Speaking to The Echo, Lisa-Marie O’Malley, policy and advocacy co-ordinator with Mental Health Reform, said investment in mental health services in Cork and right across the country is of vital importance.

She added that at the moment, the mental health budget is less than 6% of the full health budget for the year.

“There are considerable issues with mental health services at the moment.

“Many cannot access timely care due to staff shortages, long waits, and under-resourced services. Chronic underinvestment has left the system overstretched and underfunded.

“The voluntary and community sector delivers vital prevention and early intervention services, but relies on fundraising due to lack of stable, multi-year support and integration.

She added: “What we are looking for then is that puts us on the trajectory to get to 10% of the health budget for 2030, which has been a long standing commitment under Sláintecare.

“Every health service is vitally important. But the reality is there has been decades of under-investment in mental health services.

“That is something that vitally needs to be addressed from our perspective.”

In their pre-Budget 2026 submission, Mental Health Reform is calling for funding to address long waiting lists, especially in primary care and CAMHS.

Also, the upgrading of emergency departments and resourcing the development of alternative crisis care pathways.

In the community, Mental Health Reform is calling for investment in early intervention and prevention services provided by the voluntary and community mental health sector.

It is also calling for investment in targeted funding across all levels of child and youth mental healthcare, including services delivered.

Meanwhile, the mental health charity, Turn2Me, is calling on the Government to increase funding into mental health services in the budget.

Among the primary priority areas for investment which Turn2Me hope will be addressed in Budget 2026 in terms of mental health include early intervention programmes, digital mental health services, recruitment and the retention of psychotherapists, psychologists and support staff to reduce pressure on frontline services.

Fiona O’Malley, CEO of Turn2Me told The Echo that Ireland is way behind European counterparts in prioritising mental health services and mental health funding.

She referenced a Maynooth University study which found that over 40% of Irish adults have a mental health disorder.

Ms O’Malley said she hopes the Government will make the area of mental health a priority in Budget 2026.

“Those figures are quite stark and show the need to invest in mental health services. When we invest in early intervention services, we address the issue before it exacerbates.

“We would really call on the government to increase the funding into mental health services.

“We can reduce waiting lists, so that we can expand free and accessible services and that we can roll out more digital mental health services.

“So when we invest in digital mental health services, we would be easily accessibly to people, if they can’t leave the house or don’t want to leave their home.

“Mental health is as important as our physical health.”

Ms O’Malley added that mental health services in Cork and across Ireland currently are really stretched as far as they can go.

“We would really ask the Minister and the government to look again at the mental health services in Ireland and the funding of mental health services.

“The Government should really prioritise this because it is the voters who are suffering. It is the voters who need this help.

“So if we give the appropriate resources, we can help more people and we can alleviate that suffering.”