Press Release: Thursday 28 May 2026
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy announces 2026 allocation of €5.2 million under the Healthy Ireland Fund Round 4
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has announced €5.2 million in funding under the Healthy Ireland Fund (HIF) Round 4 for 2026. This funding includes €75,000 which is allocated to each of the 31 local authorities to support outcome-based initiatives.
The HIF is the national government initiative established to support the implementation of the Healthy Ireland Framework, which aims to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people living in Ireland.
In line with the vision of Healthy Ireland, the HIF, administered by Pobal, supports local and national projects aimed at improving people’s health and wellbeing. This funding ensures that existing programmes can continue through to 31 December 2026, allowing local authorities to deliver on key health outcomes while supporting the transition to the next phase of the Healthy Ireland Framework.
The HIF Round 4 focuses on improving health equity, prevention and community wellbeing through locally tailored interventions. Key thematic areas of the Fund include:
- Keeping Active
- Staying Connected
- Switching Off and Being Creative
- Eating Well
- Minding your Mood
- Minding your Body
Minister Murnane O’Connor said:
“The Healthy Ireland Fund illustrates this Government’s dedication towards building healthier communities and a healthier Ireland.
“I’m delighted that the next phase of the Healthy Ireland fund work has begun and would like to thank Pobal, the local authorities and everyone involved in helping to support these valuable wellness endeavours in all our communities.
“I look forward to seeing the impact of each project as we continue to build on the success of the Healthy Ireland fund.”
Chief Executive of Pobal Anna Shakespeare said:
‘’Pobal is committed to working on behalf of the Department of Health and engaging with local and national stakeholders to support the effective delivery of the Healthy Ireland Fund and to strengthen health and wellbeing outcomes in communities nationwide.”