NHI says ESRI research confirms we can no longer delay policy on long-term care
Monday November 17, 2025NHI says ESRI research confirms we can no longer delay policy on long-term care
Celebrate ageing with an ambitious plan for care and support of our population
Nursing Homes Ireland has today acknowledged the publication of new ESRI research projecting long-term residential care requirements across the six HSE Health Regions to 2040.
The report shows that Ireland will need thousands of additional nursing home beds in every region to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and ageing population. Long-stay bed requirements are projected to increase by an average of 2.7 to 3.7 percent per year, with estimated regional increases ranging from 1,662 to 2,197 beds in the Mid-West and 4,243 to 5,735 beds in the Dublin and Northeast. Short-stay capacity will also need to grow significantly, with projected increases of 211 to 282 beds in the Mid-West and 661 to 893 in the Dublin and Northeast.
Speaking today, Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said:
“Ireland’s population is ageing in positive and powerful ways, and we should be celebrating this achievement.
“The ESRI’s research shows that we must now match this with long-term planning, additional resources and clear national leadership. Every region will require substantial additional capacity in the years ahead. This means delivering an overarching national policy for nursing home care, underpinned by sustainable funding and a coherent plan for workforce and infrastructure development.”
Mr Daly added:
“We should welcome the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. The challenge for all of us in society, to plan for this demographic change with ambition rather than crisis response. Nursing home care is a vital component of the health and social care continuum.
“We need the right services, in the right places, with the right supports to meet people’s needs across all regions, and this must be grounded in a rights-based approach that values each person’s dignity, preferences and autonomy.”
NHI said the ESRI report reinforces its long-standing call for a national nursing home care policy that aligns planning, workforce development, regional service design and sustainable funding, while placing the resident firmly at the centre of all decisions.
The organisation also stressed the need for a more integrated system that recognises nursing home care as essential, not peripheral, to health and social care delivery, supported by rights-based principles that ensure older people can access the care they need in a fair and equitable way.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Nursing Homes Ireland
Kevin Deegan | communications@nhi.ie | 087 236 3039
Notes for Editor
- The need for nursing home care will increase significantly across every region, driven by strong growth in the population aged 65 and older.
- The older population will rise by between 53 and 76 percent depending on region, with the 85 plus population more than doubling.
Key Drivers and System Considerations
- Population ageing is the dominant factor shaping future demand.
- Healthy ageing trends will moderate but not offset the scale of required expansion.
- There is already substantial variation in regional bed supply per capita. Some regions would require additional beds beyond projected need just to match the highest supplied area.
Long-Stay Bed Requirements (Additional Beds Needed by 2040)
Average annual growth across regions: 2.7 to 3.7 percent
- Dublin and North East: 4,243 to 5,735
- Dublin and Midlands: 3,389 to 4,451
- Dublin and South East: 3,889 to 5,201
- South West: 2,743 to 3,676
- Mid West: 1,662 to 2,197
- West and North West: 2,773 to 3,715
Short-Stay Bed Requirements (Additional Beds Needed by 2040)
Average annual growth across regions: 2.7 to 3.8 percent
- Dublin and North East: 661 to 893
- Dublin and Midlands: 337 to 444
- Dublin and South East: 506 to 676
- South West: 307 to 412
- Mid West: 211 to 282
- West and North West: 433 to 580
About Nursing Homes Ireland
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) is the national representative body for the private and voluntary nursing home sector, encompassing over 440 nursing homes across Ireland, which provide care to over 27,000 people. Our mission is to actively support and represent our members, enabling them to deliver sustainable, high-quality care to their residents.
As the voice of nursing home sector, we are dedicated to championing a care-first philosophy. We actively advocate for the rights and well-being of residents, while responding to the evolving needs and challenges faced by our members. Through this, we pledge to uphold our role as advocates, embracing the direct voices of those we serve and continuously striving to promote excellence in care.