The ND Planning and Performance updated the Committee on the NSP 2026 process. The Penultimate draft NSP 2026 and its current timeline were circulated to the Committee members in advance of the meeting for review and consideration. Final Committee feedback was requested in advance of the Board’s approval of the NSP on 18 November 2025 and its subsequent submission to the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE).
The ND Planning and Performance advised that the aim is for the NSP 2026 to be delivery focused with more quantifiable targets and measurable actions while avoiding, where possible, the narrative of previous plans. The intent is that clear priorities are provided which will allow Regions and National Services prepare their Operational Plans with strong focus on doing more with what we have, with additional investment and new posts targeted to key areas such as capital infrastructure that increases capacity and digital developments.
The ND Planning and Performance highlighted two new sections in the NSP 2026 which will i) summarise developments for 2026 including increased activity levels and ii) set out the approach to delivering the Plan and replaces the Context setting section of previous Plans. The Service Chapters will follow the structure of the Corporate Plan pillars with the remaining chapters covering Finance, Workforce and Disability Services. The Appendices will outline KPIS and expected activity levels 2026; Capital Projects; Finance tables; and Transformation Programmes.
The Committee discussed cost reduction measures and targets around agency reduction and it was confirmed that agency conversion will be pursued at a higher rate in 2026. The Committee emphasised that the delivery model under NSP 2026 needs to be consistent with the HSE commitment to reduce external consultancy.
The Committee discussed the regional autonomy which should be enabled by the NSP 2026 and the new Performance and Accountability Framework which will strengthen levels of accountability within a devolved regional system. It was agreed that the draft Performance and Accountability Framework would be circulated to Committee members for feedback. The Committee noted the remaining key milestones and proposed dates for finalising the plan, including the Infrastructure Capital Plan and Digital for Care Capital Plan development.
The CTTO updated the Committee on the development of the Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026. The HSE Annual Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026 supports the third year of the Digital Health Strategic Implementation Roadmap, outlining the ambitious targets, deliverables and funding. This plan is provided to DOH and DCDE alongside the NSP in response to the LoDs. The CTTO advised that the HSE is making steady progress towards the digitalisation and integration of Ireland’s health and social care services, which is a priority for the HSE and a government mandated roadmap, Digital for Care.
The Committee highlighted that effective data management will be a critical enabler for the success of digitisation. The CTTO confirmed that engagement is ongoing with Section 38/39 agencies in relation to data and that updates on the data strategy will come to the Strategy and Reform Committee. The Committee discussed variations of IT systems in different services and the possibility of data duplication across these systems. The CTTO advised that a full review on this is underway as part of the Electronic Healthcare Record programme and an update would be provided to the Strategy and Reform Committee.
The Committee agreed to recommend to the HSE Board the adoption of NSP 2026, including the Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026. The Committee thanked the ND Planning and Performance and CTTO for the work completed to date and he confirmed that the Committee’s comments and feedback would be addressed in the next draft. It was noted that the final version of the NSP 2026 is due to be adopted by the Board on Tuesday 18 November and then submitted formally to the DoH and the DCDE.