Back to top
DownloadCOUNTRY: Ireland
KNOWLEDGE BROKER:
SEPEN thanks the knowledge brokers for their contribution in checking and completing the country-information. SEPEN is accountable for the content of the country profiles.
| Type of information | Source | Year | Remarks |
| Table 1: Health workforce stock and replacement | OECD | 2019 | Age characteristics of the nursing stock are not reported. |
| Figure 1: Mobility level in absolute numbers | OECD | 2018 | Only immigration data for OECD countries are available. The data produced are therefore incomplete. Not all OECD-countries register the country of origin of incoming health professionals and some do not register incoming health professionals at all. Emigration data are based on immigration numbers in other OECD-countries, as emigration as such is not registered nor reported. |
| Figure 2a: Number of practicing physicians per 1000 inhabitants | OECD | 2019 | Figure 2a presents regional distribution of physicians. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020. |
| Figure 2b: Number of practicing nurses and midwives per 1000 inhabitants | OECD | 2017 | Figure 2b presents regional distrubution of nursing and midwifery. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020. |
| Statistic | Number | Data Year |
| Total population | 4 904 240 | 2019 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82,3 | 2018 |
Source: Eurostat
| Licensed to practice | Practising | Professionally active | |||||
| Statistic | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Data year |
| Physicians | 23 558 | 4,80 | 16 366 | 3,34 | Not reported | Not reported | 2019 |
| > Generalist Medical Practitioner | Not reported | Not reported | 9 039 | 1,84 | Not reported | Not reported | 2019 |
| > Specialist Medical Practitioner | Not reported | Not reported | 7 298 | 1,49 | Not reported | Not reported | 2019 |
| Nurses | 77 115 | 15,84 | Not reported | Not reported | 62 700 | 12,88 | 2018 |
| Midwives | 10 663 | 2,17 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | 2019 |
| Dentists | 3 346 | 0,68 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | 2019 |
| Pharmacists | 6 494 | 1,32 | 5 299 | 1,08 | Not reported | Not reported | 2019 |
| Physiotherapists | Not reported | Not reported | 5 105 | 1,04 | Not reported | Not reported | 2019 |
Source: OECD
Not reported
| Name | Role | Website |
| Health Service Executive for the Health Service Staff Census | Regulating public health service operations. | https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/our-workforce/ |
| Department of Health | Department of the Ministry of Health. The Department of Health’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland by delivering high quality health services and getting best value from health system resources. | https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/?referrer=/ |
| Irish Medical Council (IMC) | Medical council of Ireland. Regulatory body for physicians of Ireland. | https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/ |
| Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) | Registration body for Nursing and Midwifery professions. | https://www.nmbi.ie/Home |
| Dental Council | Central authority for maintaining the registration system of dentists. | http://www.dentalcouncil.ie/ |
| CORU | Central authority, multi-disciplinary regulator for maintaining registration systems for a number of health professionals. | https://www.coru.ie/ |
Not reported
| Name | Role | Website |
| Health Service Executive for the Health Service Staff Census | Regulating public health service operations of Ireland. | https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/our-workforce/ |
| Name | Role | Website |
| Department of Health | Department of the Ministry of Health. The Department of Health’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland by delivering high quality health services and getting best value from health system resources. | https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/?referrer=/ |
| Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) | The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is a public body established by law to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public by regulating pharmacists and pharmacies in Ireland. | https://www.thepsi.ie/gns/home.aspx |
| Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) | The IMO represents doctors in Ireland and provides all the relevant services.
The organisation is committed to creating a caring, efficient and effective Health Service. |
https://www.imo.ie/ |
| Name | Role | Website |
| National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) |
National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) incorporates Medical Education and Training, Consultant Appointments and Medical Workforce Planning established in September 2014. |
https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/leadership-education-development/met/ |
| Original name | National Strategic Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | A strategic framework for health and social care workforce planning for Ireland, supporting the recruitment and retention of the right mix of health professionals across the health system to meet planned and projected service needs. |
| Publication date | 2017 |
| Link to full text | https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/f303a9-working-together-for-health-a-national-strategic-framework-for-healt/?referrer=/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/wfp-framework-consultation-report.pdf/ |
| Original name | ESRI – Projections of demand for healthcare in Ireland , 2015-2030 – The Hippocrates model |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | Providing annual projections of demand for public and private health and social care services in Ireland for the years 2015–2030. Projections are based on new ESRI projections for population growth, based on the 2016 Census. The report contains the most comprehensive mapping of public and private services of the Irish healthcare system. |
| Publication date | October 2017 |
| Link to full text | https://www.esri.ie/system/files?file=media/file-uploads/2018-02/RS67.pdf |
| Original name | Nurse Migration Project (2006–2009) |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | A mixed-method study and policy brief to explore the inflow migration of non-EU migrant nurses to Ireland. |
| Publication date | 2006-2009 |
| Link to full text | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230635585_Nurse_Migration_to_Ireland_An_Overview_Nurse_Migration_Project_Policy_Brief_1 |
| Original name | Doctor Migration Project (2011–2013) |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | A project and policy brief followed on from the Nursing Migration Project in considering the inward migration of health professionals in Ireland. |
| Publication date | 2011-2014 |
| Link to full text | http://www.healthworkforceireland.com/8203doctor-migrationnbspproject.html |
| Original name | Doctor Emigration Project (2014–2016) |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | A project and policy brief focusing on the outward migration of health professionals from Ireland. |
| Publication date | 2014-2016 |
| Link to full text | http://www.healthworkforceireland.com/doctor-emigration-project.html |
| Original name | A Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced
Nursing and Midwifery Practice |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | A new model for developing advanced nursing and midwifery practice launched by the Ministry of Health. |
| Publication date | 11 July 2019 |
| Link to full text | https://assets.gov.ie/19260/f49c5ea1a19843b0aae20151aeaf694d.pdf |
| Original name | Strategic review of medical training and career structure seventh progress report |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | High-level recommendation relating to training and career pathways for physicians. The review aims to improve graduate retention in the public health system, planning for future service needs, and identify the maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training. |
| Publication date | August 2017 – January 2018 |
| Link to full text | https://assets.gov.ie/9981/171a58f7952c441f9f91f7934ad5243c.pdf |
| Original name | Crowe Horwath Report on the Role, Training and Career Structures of Public Health Physicians in Ireland |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | The Crowe Horwath report commissioned by the Department of Health aims to undertake a review of the current and future roles, training and career structures of public health physicians in Ireland. |
| Publication date | April 2018 |
| Link to full text | https://assets.gov.ie/9446/56efd96dac314a9692b785706b5a5ecb.pdf |
| Original name | Health Service Capacity Review 2018 |
| Name in English | |
| Short description |
The Health Service Capacity Review forecasts future capacity requirements in acute hospitals, primary care and in services for older persons (residential and homecare services) for the period to 2031. The analysis takes account of current levels of demand and capacity, demographic and non-demographic factors driving future demand and the potential impact that key system reforms can have on capacity needs. |
| Publication date | 23 January 2018 |
| Link to full text | https://assets.gov.ie/10131/5bb5ff12463345bbac465aaf02a2333d.pdf |
| Original name | Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 |
| Name in English | |
| Short description | An Act defining the provisions relating to the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland, aligning the governance of nursing and midwifery with other health professions. The Act ensures the protection and integrity of the practice of nursing and midwifery. |
| Publication date | 21 December 2011 |
| Link to full text | http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/act/41/enacted/en/print |
| Original name | Pharmaceutical society of Ireland (Continuing professional development) rules 2015 |
| Name in English | S.I. No. 553 of 2015 |
| Short description | .A statutory instrument setting out the CPD obligations for pharmacists in Ireland, declaring that pharmacists must maintain a record and demonstrate evidence of their CPD. |
| Publication date | 2015 |
| Link to full text | https://www.thepsi.ie/Libraries/Legislation/SI_No_553_of_2015_PSI_CPD_Rules.sflb.ashx |
Not reported
Not reported
Not reported
List of sources specific to this country:
Last updated: 10 October 2020
The country fiches are produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in the country sheets are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study.
Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission’s/Executive Agency’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
This website was produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this website. Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission's / Executive Agency's behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.