Written answer
Health Services Staff
The Government has no specified specialist PHN expansion plan or cost, but supports recruitment within 3,300 additional HSE posts and existing specialist services.
4131. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if she will outline any plans to introduce specialist public health nurses; the number; and at what cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59365/26]
Comment on this
Public Health Nurses (PHN) are employed by the HSE to deliver safe, quality and person-centred community nursing care across a person's life. This Government remains committed to providing continued investment in the nursing and midwifery workforce and ensuring that public health nursing is available for all patients who need this care as outlined in the Programme for Government.
PHNs manage caseloads, defined as the number of patients admitted to the PHN service who require continuing care, in defined geographical areas within the Primary Care Team. The services provided by PHNs vary based on patient need and they act as a point of access for other community care services.
All PHNs are registered general nurses with a specialist level 9 post graduate nursing qualification and are registered in the Public Health Nurse Division of the NMBI register. This specialist post graduate qualification uniquely qualifies the PHN to carry out the developmental screening of children under the National Healthy Childhood Programme (NHCP). In some areas, there are PHN posts specialising in traveller health, child protection & welfare, international protection applicants’ health and for people experiencing homelessness.
In the summer of 2026, the next cohort of nurses are due to complete the Public Health Nursing Sponsorship Programme enabling them to register with the NMBI as a Public Health Nurse.
Budget 2026 has provided for an additional 3,300 whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff in the Health Service Executive (HSE), with all six Health Regions empowered to utilise resources strategically in a way that meets the needs of their communities. Each Regional Executive Officer will continue to prioritise, recruit and replace staff within their approved number as appropriate, including Public Health Nurses. Additionally, at the start of 2026, two regions, HSE Dublin & North East and HSE Dublin & Midlands advertised for PHN recruitment.