HSE Performance Committee Meeting Minutes 19 February 2026

Committee Members Present

Brendan Whelan (Chair), Tim Hynes, Kenneth Mealy, Pat Kirwan, Lily Collison, and Matt Walsh.

HSE Executive Attendance

Tony Canavan (REO West and North West), Andy Phillips (REO Southwest), Patrick Lynch (ND Planning and Performance), Grace Rothwell (Access and Integration), Pat Healy (ND National Services and Schemes), Geraldine Crowley (AND Enhanced Community Care and Primary Care), Colm Henry (CCO), Deirdre McNamara (CCO Office Director Strategic Programmes), Damien McCallion (CTTO), Anne Marie Hoey (CPO), Aoife O’Donohue (AND Disabilities Transformation), Maria Kavanagh (GM Disabilities Coordination and Transformation), Joe Ryan (CRO), Trevor O’Callaghan (IHA Manager Dublin South City and West), Neal Mullen (CISO) Dara Purcell (Corporate Secretary), Niamh Drew (Deputy Corporate Secretary), Rebecca Kennedy (Office of the Board).

Minutes reflect the order in which items were considered and are numbered in accordance with the original agenda. All performance/activity data used in this document refers to the latest information available at the time.

The Committee held a private session to review the agenda, the relevant papers and the approach to conducting the meeting.

Executive members joined the meeting

2.1 Declarations of Interest

No conflicts of interest were declared.

2.2 Minutes

The Committee approved the minutes of 22 January 2026.

HSE Executives joined the meeting

3.1 National Performance Report (NPR) December 2025 Data [End of Year Report]

The NPR (December 2025 Data) and accompanying briefing papers, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, were noted. The December 2025 NPR presents the HSE’s performance through the four lenses of the Balanced Scorecard (Quality, Access, People, Money), against a subset of the KPIs contained in the National Service Plan (NSP) 2025. The Committee noted the End of Year Report commentary on Urgent Care; Planned Care; Cancer Services; Community Services; Quality and Safety; and Human Resources, as highlighted by the ND Planning and Performance.

The Committee discussed Mental Health services with a particular focus on Kerry CAMHs. The REO Southwest highlighted that clinical governance in the area is currently being strengthened. The CCO agreed to update the Committee on the ongoing work on the Clinical Governance Framework.

In relation to Urgent Care, the Committee discussed the KPIs relating to patients awaiting admission to an inpatient bed. The ND Planning and Performance highlighted that significant improvement has been made in this area in the past 3 years and that these KPIs are top-line indicators, which may highlight other areas needing attention. The Committee also discussed the screening and vaccination KPIs, and it was agreed that the CCO would provide the plan to address Breast Check radiographer staffing, as well as plans to improve MMR vaccine uptake and vaccination rates among healthcare workers.

The Committee discussed the Human Resources KPIs, and it was agreed that the CPO would provide the Committee with a report on staff absenteeism to include a breakdown by staff role.

CCO, CCO Office Director Strategic Programmes, CPO, and REO Southwest left the meeting

4.1 Therapies Performance

ND National Services and Schemes and AND Enhanced Community Care and Primary Care joined the meeting

The ND National Services and Schemes updated the Committee on Primary Care Therapy Waiting Lists. The Committee noted the paper circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: the Primary Care Therapy Waiting List Model; Overview of Waiting Lists 2019-2025; and Primary Care Therapy Waiting List Plan.

In particular, the Committee discussed the workforce challenge in primary therapies and how staff can be attracted to join the HSE rather than private providers. It was agreed that clarity on flexibility offered as part of HSE hiring processes would be provided as part of the next quarterly update. In relation to the Primary Care Waiting List Plan, the Committee highlighted that patient advocacy groups should be engaged with, in relation to private capacity being utilised.

ND National Services and Schemes and AND Enhanced Community Care and Primary Care left the meeting

4.2 Disability Services

AND Disabilities Transformation and GM Disabilities Coordination and Transformation joined the meeting

The AND Disabilities Transformation updated the Committee on Disability Services. The Committee noted the papers circulated in advance of the meeting which included updates on: Disability Services Governance, Oversight and Control; Financial Governance and Control; Workforce Governance; Performance Oversight and Reporting; and Risks, Issues and Escalation.

In particular, the Committee discussed the disability services reporting structure. The AND Disabilities Transformation advised that the reporting template for the Committee will be the same as the one used for the Department of Children, Disability and Education and that further information would be provided at the next Committee meeting. The Committee also, in relation to the service improvement plan, requested data on the number of people awaiting transfer from nursing homes to appropriate accommodation.

ND Access and integration, AND Disabilities Transformation, and GM Disabilities Coordination and Transformation left the meeting

CRO joined the meeting

5.1 Q4 2025 Corporate Risk Register (CRR) Report

The CRO presented the Q4 2025 CRR and accompanying Committee extract and metric report to the Committee. The Q4 2025 CRR was reviewed and approved by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and subsequently brought to the Audit and Risk Committee. It will be submitted to the Board for approval and inclusion in the Annual Report 2025.

The Committee discussed its allocated principal risks (R001 Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Services, R002 Standards of Safety and Care, R004 Health Care Acquired Infections and Anti-Microbial Resistance, R007 Cyber Security, R011 Scheduled Care Services). The CRO outlined the increase in risk rating of R001 UEC Services, which arose from insights at recent REO workshops.

The Committee discussed the mitigation factors for R001, including the mass casualty plan, and it was agreed that a copy of the plan would be provided to the Committee. Third party risk management was also discussed and it was agreed that this would be discussed at a future meeting.

The Committee noted the Q4 2025 CRR and associated documentation.

CRO left the meeting

IHA Manager Dublin South City and West joined the meeting

6.1 CHI Commissioning

The ND Planning and Performance provided an update on the status of the New Children’s Hospital Ireland (NCHI) Programme. The Committee noted the papers circulated in advance of the meeting, which included the Report to the National Oversight Group; Weekly update to the Minister incl. Critical Path Gant Charts; and Ministerial Correspondence. The Committee discussed in particular the critical care paths and projected opening date.

IHA Manager Dublin South City and West left the meeting

The ND Planning and Performance provided a briefing on the Annual Report 2025. The Committee noted the paper circulated in advance of the meeting which outlined its broad approach and indicative timeline. The Committee agreed to hold special meetings as appropriate to facilitate the finalisation of the Annual Report.

8.1 CISO Update re Operational Resilience

CISO joined the meeting

The CISO provided an update to the Committee on the Continuum Operational Resilience Programme which was requested at the September 2025 Committee meeting. The Committee noted the papers circulated in advance of the meeting which provided an overview of the programme, its approach, and progress to date. The CTTO highlighted that the Programme is broader than cyber security and takes an all-hazards approach, protecting patient services from disruption whether caused by cyber-attack, infra-structure failure, supply chain issues, or other events. Its function is to ensure all staff know immediately what to do in the event of any emergency.

No matters arose under this item.

The meeting ended at 14:55.