Ireland to Require 3,000 Additional Community Healthcare Professionals over the Years, ESRI Report Warns

Dublin: Ireland will need approximately 3,000 additional nurses and therapists over the next decade to meet the growing healthcare needs of an ageing population, according to a new report published by the Economic and Social Research Institute.

The study projects a significant increase in demand for community-based healthcare services, particularly care provided outside hospitals and nursing homes. As a result, the Health-Service Executive will require a substantial expansion of its workforce across several key healthcare professions.

Growing Demand for Community-Based Care

The ESRI estimates that by 2036, the HSE will need:

• Between 2,075 and 2,231 public-health and community nurses
• 30 to 34 audiologists
• 70 to 90 dietitians
• 300 to 383 occupational therapists
• Approximately 315 physiotherapists
• 58 to 66 podiatrists
• 117 to 208 speech and language therapists

The report recommends that workforce planning measures begin as early as next year to ensure sufficient staffing levels are available to meet future demand.

Focus on Eight Key Healthcare Professions

The research examined workforce requirements across eight critical areas of community healthcare:

• Public-health and community nursing
• Audiology
• Dietetics
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Speech and language therapy

The findings come shortly after the HSE introduced restrictions on the recruitment of certain non-frontline staff and reduced spending on agency workers as part of broader cost-control measures.

Workforce Planning Must Be a Priority

According to the ESRI, long-term investment in workforce development, training and recruitment will be essential if Ireland is to successfully manage the healthcare demands created by demographic change.

Dr Aoife Brick, who led the study, said the findings highlight the need for substantial growth across all examined professions.

She noted that Ireland’s healthcare reforms under Sláintecare are designed to shift more healthcare services into local communities, reducing reliance on hospital-based care and improving access for older people.

AI and New Workforce Models Suggested

The report also recommends exploring innovative approaches to address future staffing pressures.

Potential measures include:

• Greater use of artificial intelligence for administrative and routine tasks
• Expanding multidisciplinary care teams
• Developing broader skills across healthcare professions
• Improving workforce productivity through technology and training

Researchers argue that these measures could help alleviate pressure on healthcare staff while maintaining service quality.

Government and HSE Response

Health-Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said expanding workforce capacity, investing in infrastructure and improving productivity will be critical to addressing Ireland’s long-term demographic challenges.

Meanwhile, Anne Marie Hoey said the HSE is already working with the government to develop strategies that will help meet future healthcare workforce requirements.

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