The ND Planning and Performance updated the Committee on the NSP 2025 process. The pre- Letters of Determination (LoD) draft NSP 2025 and its current timeline were circulated to the Committee in advance of the meeting for review and consideration. Given the timeframes for developing the 2025 Plan, the pre-LOD version submitted to the Committee was prepared to provide an early view of how it is proposed the Plan will be structured and the type of content to be included in the Plan.
The ND Planning and Performance provided a summary of work completed to date on the pre-LoD version of the NSP and briefly summarised the proposed timelines for completing the NSP within 21 days of receiving the final LoD from the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Children,
Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The Committee welcomed that there has been extensive early engagement between the HSE, DoH, and DCEDIY, and that Regional representatives have also been included in the process. Engagement with Section 38/39 agencies in relation to the NSP was also discussed and the Committee was advised that this is primarily managed through Service Level Agreements (SLAs). In the context of the Dialogue Forum and the new HSE Regions it is expected that engagement with the HSE’s funded agencies in the service planning process will continue to develop.
The Committee noted the key milestones and proposed dates for finalising the plan, including the appendices setting out 2025 KPIs and activity measures, and the Infrastructure Capital Plan and ICT Capital Plan development. The Committee was advised that during the Plan’s development, there will be four iterations of the Plan: the Pre-LOD draft, the first full draft, the Penultimate draft and then the Final draft which will be the version submitted for approval by the Board.
It was highlighted that the 2025 service planning process is being undertaken in parallel with the development of the HSE’s new Corporate Plan 2025 – 2027 which the Board considered at its October meeting. The NSP 2025 will reflect the first year of delivery of the three-year Corporate Plan.
The Committee provided feedback on the proposed structure of the NSP and suggested that the document be made as accessible and clear as possible by appropriately addressing the target audience and providing a summary of important programmes and links to relevant plans and programmes as appropriate.
The Committee noted that the Disabilities Services Pay and Numbers Strategy (PNS) has not yet been finalised and reinforced feedback given at the Board meeting of 23 October 2024 that this section of the NSP be enhanced to ensure that there are measurable outcomes included and that service delivery can be rolled out as early as possible in 2025.
The Committee noted that all material included in the papers circulated in advance of the meeting was presented as draft, and that feedback would be incorporated in the first full draft of the NSP which will be informed by the final LoDs when received.