Written answer
Primary Care Services
The 2027 projected demand and funding for primary care services remain under assessment, with definitive figures unavailable until the Budget and Estimates process concludes.
401. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the projected growth in demand and associated cost, across all existing primary care services for 2027. [66197/26]
Comment on this
The projected growth in demand and associated funding requirements for 2027, including those relating to primary care services, are currently being considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process. The 2027 Budget and Estimates have not yet been finalised.
The demand for primary care services is influenced by a range of factors, including population growth, demographic changes, service utilisation patterns and policy developments. As a result, demand growth rates and associated costs can vary across different primary care programmes and service settings.
In developing the Health Vote funding requirements for 2027, the Department of Health and the HSE are assessing the expected cost of maintaining existing primary care services and meeting anticipated demand pressures. This work includes consideration of activity levels, demographic factors, existing commitments and other cost drivers.
As the budgetary process is ongoing, it is not possible at this stage to provide a definitive estimate of the projected growth in demand and associated cost across all existing primary care services for 2027.