HSE Performance Committee Meeting Minutes 23 April 2026

Committee Members Present

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

HSE Executive Attendance

Patrick Lynch (ND Planning and Performance), Tony Canavan (REO West and North West), JP Nolan (Head of Compliance, Assurance and Regulatory Affairs (CARA)), Philippa Ryan Withero (Acting CPO), Pat Healy (ND National Services and Schemes), Colm Henry (CCO), Deirdre McNamara (CCO Office Director Strategic Programmes), Amanda Casey (Chief Social Worker), Pamela Fagan (NIRP Chair), Patricia Whelehan (AND Older Persons Services), Aoife O’Donohue (AND Disability Transformation), 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 19 March 2026.

2.3 Matters for noting

The Committee noted the following papers which were circulated in advance of the meeting:

• Briefing re Consultants not on the Specialist Division Register (SDR)
• Open Disclosure Annual Report 2025

3.1 National Performance Report (NPR) February 2026 Data / 4.2 UEC Position

The NPR (February 2026 Data) and accompanying briefing paper, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, were noted. The February 2026 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) 2026. The Committee noted the additional commentary relating to Urgent Care; Planned Care, Cancer services and timely access to urgent colonoscopy services, Community services, Quality and Safety, and Human Resources, which were highlighted by the ND Planning and Performance.

The Committee discussed in particular vaccination rates and it was agreed that an update on the winter vaccination programme would come to the September meeting. The Committee discussed the capacity implications of the expansion of the BowelScreen programme. Waiting lists for Acute and Primary Care services were also discussed and it was agreed that an update on waiting list reduction would come to a future Committee meeting.

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) metrics were highlighted by the Committee and it was agreed that a briefing on NAS Performance would be provided for the next meeting. In relation to workforce, the Committee discussed numbers of hospital interns and it was agreed that a report on census numbers would come to the July Committee meeting.

ND National Services and Schemes, Head of CARA, CCO, and Deirdre McNamara left the meeting.

4.2 REO Briefing re measures towards achieving and progressing recruitment

The REO West and North West provided the Committee with a verbal briefing on the transition to the regional led recruitment process. It was highlighted that the movement of recruitment closer to service delivery has been positive and improvement in recruitment levels can be seen. The Committee discussed the process for staff moving between regions, particularly NCHDs. It was agreed that an update on the National Taskforce on the NCHD Workforce recommendations and their implementation be brought back to the Committee.

Chief Social Worker and NIRP Chair joined the meeting.

5.1 National Independent Review Panel

The Chief Social Worker and NIRP Chair presented to the Committee the bi-annual update for the NIRP which was circulated in advance of the meeting.

The NIRP Chair highlighted that since the last NIRP update in October 2025, the Department of Health has published the first National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector. The Committee welcomed that this Framework commits to placing the NIRP on statutory footing. The NIRP Chair also confirmed that the NIPR has two current cases for review with a decision to be made regarding a potential third case. The Committee noted in relation to the capacity of the NIRP, six panel members are currently on-boarding and recruitment is underway for a service manager (GR VIII).

CSW and NIRP Chair left the meeting.

6.1 Update re workplan

Acting CPO and Committee Member M Walsh provided an update on work underway to define the workforce elements of the Performance Committee Workplan allied to the People Strategy and how it may connect with the Strategy and Reform Committee. Different areas for inclusion were discussed and it was agreed that a further draft workplan would be submitted to the Committee for consideration at its May meeting and that an update on agency would be brought to each Committee meeting going forward.

Acting CPO left the meeting.

The ND Planning and Performance provided an update on the Annual Report 2025. The Committee noted the paper and the Final Draft of the Annual Report which was circulated in advance of the meeting. The Committee provided some minor feedback on the Draft and agreed to recommend it to the Board for approval at the next Board meeting on 29 April.

8.1 Older Persons Services

Head of CARA, and AND Older Persons Services joined the meeting.

The AND Older Persons Services provided the Committee with the quarterly update on Older Persons Services. The Committee noted the paper circulated in advance of the meeting, which covered, for example: NSP 2026 Home Support targets and activity; Waiting Lists; Home Support Authorisation Scheme; Home Support Reform Programme; and Recruitment and Retention initiatives.

In particular, the Committee discussed the procurement of ICT System for Home Support Service, Statutory Home Support Scheme (SHSS) and Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) and interRAI implementation, and the statutory update which will provide for HIQA regulation of Home Support, impacting not just older persons care but also children, mental health and disability.

AND Older Persons Services left the meeting.

8.2 Disability Services

AND Disability Transformation joined the meeting.

The AND Disability Transformation updated the Committee on Disability Services. The Committee noted the papers circulated in advance which outlined performance reporting on Adult and Children’s services, which covered areas including: Financial Performance (February 2026 YTD); Workforce; AON and In-reach Teams; CDNTs; Service Operations; Residential Services & Decongregation; Respite Services; Home Support & PA Services; Capital and Estates; Service Arrangements; and Leadership and Governance.

In particular, the Committee discussed the proposed governance structure currently under development to advance the Disability agenda, noting that this area is a Government priority.

No matters arose under this item. The meeting ended at 2:50pm.

Terms of Reference: Performance Committee