3319. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health whether she has commenced work on a successor to the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, as outlined in the Programme for Government; if a future strategy will support an improved midwife to birth ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59926/26]

3484. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health the position regarding efforts to deliver a successor to the national maternity strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60326/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3319 and 3484 together.

The National Maternity Strategy is in its final year. The Strategy has delivered significant reform since 2016, with the majority of actions now completed or well underway. Work is ongoing to ensure completion of the remaining actions of the Strategy in 2026.

Since 2016, €28 million in development funding has been invested through the Strategy, supporting the recruitment of more than 567 additional whole-time equivalent staff, including 44 consultants and over 390 nurses and midwives.

Over €130 million of capital investment has been directed into maternity services over the lifetime of the strategy. This has modernised facilities, delivering refurbishments to wards, and home-from-home birthing rooms across the country.

More than €20 million capital funding has also advanced our information sharing infrastructure, with the Maternal and Neonatal Clinical Management System now live in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, the Rotunda, the National Maternity Hospital, and the Coombe.

The Government remains committed to the continued improvement of maternity services, including the development of a successor National Maternity Strategy, as set out in the Programme for Government.

To inform this work, the Health Service Executive's National Women and Infants Health Programme is currently completing a review of the implementation of the existing Strategy, including engagement with staff across maternity services. This review, together with findings from the 2025 National Maternity Experience Survey, will inform an independent external evaluation of the Strategy.

The independent evaluation will provide evidence-based recommendations to support the future development of maternity services and the next National Maternity Strategy. A tender for this review was published on 13 July 2026, and the evaluation is expected to conclude before year-end.

My Department will continue to work closely with the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure that the planned successor strategy builds on the substantial progress achieved to date and provides for the ongoing and future enhancement of our maternity and neonatal services for all women and babies.