Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy's sentiments. There is a fantastic opportunity here that we need to embrace. The Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, and I will, in the coming days, launch Connecting Government 2030, a digital and ICT strategy for Ireland's public service. That will lay out, in much more detail, many of the key reforms on which we are working towards which will involve building towards 90% online uptake of key public services, in line with the targets set by the EU's digital decade.

However, the Deputy made a critical point on access. Access to healthcare is not just about accessing a physical building or hospital. It is about accessing services online. The roll-out of the national broadband plan to remote areas of our country is absolutely imperative to that. All the measures we are progressing in the e-health area will, ultimately, help to reduce our reliance on acute hospitals. We also have to ensure that our workers in the healthcare sector are equipped with the technology, equipment and resources that they need to fulfil their functions. The Government will continue to work towards that.

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