2.1 Final Draft National Service Plan 2025 including Capital Plans 2025 (Building & Equipment and ICT)
Board members considered with the CEO and accompanying SLT members the following draft documentation which had been circulated in advance of the meeting:
- National Service Plan 2025,
- Capital Plan 2024 - Building and Equipment 2025,
- ICT Capital Plan 2025.
The CEO presented to the Board the final draft NSP 2025 and Capital Plans 2025 which are to be submitted in line with legislation to the Minister for Health and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth within 21 days of receipt of the Letters of Determination (LoD).
The Board were advised that the draft NSP and Capital Plans 2025 had been prepared following feedback from the Board, the Performance Committee, the Audit & Risk Committee, the Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
The Chair of the Performance Committee advised the Board that the draft NSP 2025 and ICT Capital Plan 2025 were considered and endorsed by the Committee at the meeting of 22 November 2024. The Committee Chair thanked the CEO and SLT and noted the excellent interaction with the Committee.
The Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee provided an update to the Board in relation to the Capital Plan 2024 (Building & Equipment), which was considered and endorsed by the Committee at the meeting 22 November 2024.
The CEO advised the Board that the planning team sought to ensure that the draft NSP appropriately responds to both the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s Letters of Determination. He outlined that the narrative sections are organised under five themes, with Disability Services positioned as a stand-alone chapter in acknowledgement of the line of governance directly to the DCEDIY. These sections reflect day to day operational activities, as well as several specific priority areas for 2025.
Board members discussed 2025 funding and workforce, noting the €26.9bn provided to operate the health services in 2025, and €3.2bn of that being provided by DCEDIY in respect of specialist disability services. The Board welcomed that this is a €1.6Bn / 6.6% increase for 2025 on the level of recurring budget provided for services in 2024, with the 2024 funding inclusive of the €1.5bn funding from the 2- Year Agreement, now provided on a recurring basis in 2025.
In relation to workforce the Board noted that the NSP 2025 provides for a net additional 3,553 WTEs for the new service developments, which is in addition to the new service developments and agency conversion of 3,310 WTE approved under the July Pay and Numbers Strategy. The total 2024 year end WTE limit is 129,753. The additional 3,553 WTEs in 2025, will bring the 2025-year end WTE limit to 133,306 WTEs. For DCEDIY funded services, a Pay and Numbers Strategy will be finalised in Q1 2025.
The Board highlighted that focus will be required in 2025 to support improved efficiency and increased productivity, as well as the ongoing focus on improving the quality of care, and noted that the NSP sets out ambitious targets for increasing activity and reducing waiting times. With regard to disability services the approaches to assessment of need was highlighted by the Board, and were advised that a review to the approach of the overall delivery of disability services is being reconsidered to improve access and outcomes in disability services, particularly children’s disability services.
The Board agreed to adopt the National Service Plan 2025, Capital Plan 2025 for Buildings and Equipment and ICT Capital Plan 2025 for submission to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for approval.
In echoing comments from the Chair of the Performance Committee, the Chairperson acknowledged the work of the CEO and SLT in producing the National Service Plan 2025.