Press Release: Friday 9 October 2026
Minister for Older People Kieran O’Donnell announces Budget 2027 funding increases
The Minister of State for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell, has today announced a significant package of investment in services for older people in 2027, with over €3.4 billion allocated under Budget 2027.
Minister O’Donnell said:
“I am pleased to have secured significant additional funding for older persons services. This makes Budget 2027 the largest ever for older persons services with over €3.4 billion allocated to maintain and further enhance older persons services in 2027. The package is about strengthening community and residential care services, recognising the essential role they play in supporting older people across the country.
“There continues to be a strong focus on investment in more care closer to home, helping older people to remain independent, active and connected in their own homes and communities.”
Budget 2027 provides for an increase of 1.8 million hours for the delivery of home support, with an increase in funding of €123 million.
Minister O’Donnell said:
“Home support plays a vital role in helping older people to live well at home and easing pressure on families and carers. Increasing the target to a record 28.5 million hours will allow more people to access care and support in their own communities.”
An additional €97 million has been secured in Budget 2027 for the Fair Deal scheme. This increase in funding will support the nursing home sector with inflationary and statutory cost pressures and provide for 500 additional people to be supported under this scheme.
Minister O’Donnell said:
“Long-term residential care is a crucial part of the continuum of care. This increase in funding in the Fair Deal budget is to support our nursing home sector with cost pressures and to provide for an increase in the number of people supported under the scheme.
“The Government is also committed to continued investment in residential care through the opening of new beds in Community Nursing Units.”
Budget 2027 provides a package of new investment in practical, locally delivered services for older people, including:
- €2 million for Meals on Wheels, bringing total funding to €10.25 million for 2027 and enabling providers to deliver more meals, support additional clients and expand into areas where gaps in provision have been identified.
- A new €2 million Community Supports Grant Scheme, providing targeted funding to community and voluntary organisations to expand practical, locally led supports for older people.
- €627,500 towards the Care and Repair Scheme, supporting Age Action Ireland’s expansion of this scheme with five new service locations, delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to roll out the Care and Repair scheme nationally. The scheme provides minor household repairs and maintenance to help older people remain safely at home.
- €635,000 for five additional Healthy Age Friendly Homes programme coordinators.
- €1.4 million for community-based dementia services, supporting The Alzheimer Society of Ireland to expand day care services, dementia day care at home, young-onset dementia activity clubs and provide five additional dementia advisers.
- €610,000 in additional funding to Family Carers Ireland, delivering on the Programme for Government commitments to invest in services for family carers, including respite for carers.
Minister O’Donnell said:
“Budget 2027 delivers a substantial investment in services for older people, including dementia services. Delivered closer to the home, these measures will strengthen the practical supports available to older people, their families and carers, helping more people to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. The package also represents a significant step in delivering on Programme for Government commitments to sustain ageing in place and strengthen community-based care.”
A further area of focus for dementia will be to expand access to Memory Assessment and Support Services (MASS), including working with the HSE to progress Ireland’s participation in GENFI (the Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia Initiative) and advancing the establishment of a National Specialist Dementia and Memory Centre. The Centre will support people with complex and genetic dementias and strengthen Ireland’s role in dementia research, trials and innovation.
Minister O’Donnell also confirmed that a minimum of 24% of all new home support hours will be allocated to people with dementia in 2027.
Minister O’Donnell said:
“This Budget recognises the essential role of community and voluntary organisations in supporting older people across the country. The new investments in Meals on Wheels, Day Centres, the Care and Repair Scheme, Healthy Age Friendly Homes and the Community Supports Grant Scheme will provide visible and practical supports in local communities. Together with the expansion of home support and dementia services, these measures will help older people to remain independent, connected and supported in the places they call home.”
Other announced funding includes an additional €28.3 million for transitional care and transitional care complex funding in 2027, supporting older people to access the care they need when they are ready to leave hospital. Further investment will support targeted expansion of day services, adult safeguarding and the expansion of the Nursing Home Linkage Project.