Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes it is. I could not agree more with the Deputy's assessment. I agree entirely that it is one of the big enablers. It was called for in the Sláintecare report. Only this week, I brought the new e-health strategy to Government and it has been agreed. This year, we are starting with a patient app, which is being rolled out for testing to several hundred maternity patients in the south east. We will enter the tender process shortly for a shared care record. That is the bit most of us think about when we talk about e-health - the idea that we can all pull up our X-rays, MRIs or medication on our phone and when we are in hospital, the doctor or nurse will be able to pull it up. We have a shortlist and are going to tender. The Department believes that if we can award the contract early next year, it can be in place by the end of next year.