John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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774. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on plans towards the full digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9750/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Last year my department developed the 'Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030' to reflect the rapidly changing landscape of health and social care in Ireland and provide a clear Vision and Mission for Digital Health in Ireland. The framework was published in May 2024 and provides a clear strategy and roadmap for the digitisation of digital health records and information systems across the health service.

Digital for Care is framed around six principles that describe how we will deliver on this vision, to guide investment and provide clear direction in building up strong digital health infrastructure and capabilities. These six strategic principles are as follows: Patient as an Empowered Partner, Workforce and Workplace, Digitally Enabled and Connected Care, Data Driven Services, Digital Health Ecosystem and Innovation and Digitally Secure Foundations and Digital Enablers.

The Programme for Government underlines this ambition to continue to work towards the full digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems.

The HSE published a corresponding Digital Health Strategic Implementation Roadmap 2024-2030 in July 2024 that provides details on the various initiatives under each of the six principles, and the programmes, systems and services that need to be put in place to bring about the level of digital transformation required of the health serviced.

A link to the implementation roadmap can be found here:

about.hse.ie/publications/digital-for-care/.

As part of the national service plan for 2025, the ICT Capital Plan has been aligned with the framework and associated HSE roadmap. The initiatives described in the plan are closely coupled with the six principles contained within the strategy, and the priorities for digital health in the coming year. Whilst we will continue to invest in core systems, infrastructure and building cyber resilience, digital health initiatives in 2025 will place a particular emphasis on patient engagement and empowerment through the use of digital channels and services, building capacity by developing virtual care wards, and provide more options for patients to avail of telehealth services.

The pace at which the HSE will deliver these programmes will depend on several critical factors, including the availability of dedicated funding and resources. Sustained investment from 2025 to 2030 will be required to realise the framework and associated programmes outlined in the implementation roadmap.

With increased digital funding allocated to accelerate the pace of roll-out and implementation of digital health capabilities, Ireland can leverage the many benefits digitalisation offers from improving the quality of healthcare, equipping our healthcare workforce with the necessary digital capabilities to increase productivity and efficiency while enabling the health service plan for our future health needs.

As evidence of tangible progress, this week the HSE launched the national health app and the procurement of the national shared care record technology platform is now complete, with contracts being agreed in the coming weeks.