2.1 HSE Infrastructure Capital Plan 2026
The National Director, Head of Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery (ND SHICD) presented the draft HSE Capital Plan 2026, noting that when circulated, the Letters of Determination had not been received.
The Committee were advised that the expectation is that the total Capital funding for 2026 will be €1.3bn for building and equipment. In addition to this, €50m is expected to be provided from the HSE’s income account (proceeds from insurance claims, project contributions, sale of assets, etc.) which were outlined to the Committee.
The ND SHICD advised the Committee of all considerations in preparing for the Capital Plan, and that the first draft incorporates input from the HSE Regions, National Ambulance Service, Access and Integration and in consultation with the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Children, Disability & Equality (DCDE).
The Committee noted the total capital investment available for 2026, (including total funding from DoH, DCDE and the HSEs’ income account). The Health funding distribution was outlined with the funding required to meet all contractual commitments being addressed first, with subsequent priority given to ambulance replacement, equipment replacement programme and infrastructural risk and the next priority given to Climate Action and National Maternity Hospital. A ring fence fund was then proposed for the Capital Project Initiation Appraisal & Development; with the remaining funding allocated across all remaining REOs prioritised projects that had already been approved subject to Capital Funding but yet to be in contractual commitment. The Disability funding distribution was noted to take a similar approach with the Infrastructural Risk, Climate Action and the Capital Project Initiation Appraisal & Development fund being priorities once the Contractual Commitments were addressed and with the remaining funding allocated across all remaining REOs prioritised projects.
The Committee considered the detail of the draft Capital Plan and provided commentary on a number of issues relating to the connection to implementation of various national strategies eg Disability Strategy and Mental Health Strategy and the funding allocated under the Capital Plan; the connection between the HSE Capital & Estates Strategy and the Capital Plan; changes to the expenditure of the NCH relating to the conciliation process whether contested or not being factored in; Health Regions equity; review of projections relating to the development of primary care centres; the option of framework agreements with standardised design; value for money; resource constraints; timing of projects; accountability; review of wording in the Plan; and an emphasis on outputs rather than inputs.
It was noted that further information / briefings would be brought back to Committee in relation to the release of surplus or underutilised properties; the Strategic Health Investment Framework (SHIF); Regional analysis of distribution of projects; governance to the Committee regarding the Capital Planning Expert Group and Capital Planning Steering Group; and the provision of community beds for older persons.
The Committee welcomed the update and noted that once the Letters of Determination are received, the next draft of the Capital Plan 2026 will come before the Committee on 14 November 2025 for consideration and endorsement to the Board.
The Chair thanked the ND SHICD and team for their input and the time given to the draft Capital Plan.