210. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in expanding the use of digital health technologies to improve patient access, reduce waiting times and support more efficient delivery of healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52237/26]

Digital health is a key enabler of better healthcare and is recognised in Sláintecare as an important enabler of health service reform. It supports improved access to care, more efficient services and reduced waiting times by ensuring that patients and healthcare professionals can access the right information at the right time.

The Government is committed to expanding the use of digital health technologies as a key enabler of improved patient access, more efficient healthcare delivery and better health outcomes. This work is being progressed through Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024–2030, which sets out the strategic roadmap for the digital transformation of health and social care services.

Significant progress is being made across a number of major digital health programmes. The HSE Health App continues to expand with over 200,000 registered users in June 2026, providing patients with greater access to health information and digital services. A major release was delivered in March 2026, with further major releases planned for July and November 2026. These releases will continue to enhance the functionality available to patients and support more convenient access to health services through digital channels.

The National Shared Care Record is being rolled out on a phased basis, enabling healthcare professionals to securely access important patient information across care settings. Government approval of the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) Programme Preliminary Business Case (February 2026) has enabled the programme to progress through Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines and into procurement. This represents a significant milestone towards the delivery of a nationally governed Electronic Health Record system and one of the largest digital transformation investments ever undertaken in the State. Together, these initiatives will support safer, more connected and patient-centred care by ensuring that critical health information is available to healthcare professionals when and where it is needed.

Digital technologies are also supporting service reform and improved patient access. The expansion of virtual care services and virtual wards is helping to reduce avoidable hospital attendances and admissions while enabling more patients to receive care closer to home. Digital solutions are improving referral pathways, information sharing and the coordination of care across healthcare settings.

Digital health technologies are also supporting the Government's efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to planned care. The Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) 2026 encompasses 11 actions focused on progressing a number of digital and enabling technologies and tools that will support and facilitate the longer-term reform of waiting lists. These include the continued rollout of electronic referral and reporting systems, the expansion of virtually based patient engagement, the implementation of artificial intelligence and automation tools to support aspects of waiting list management, the use of data analytics to improve capacity utilisation, and the continued deployment of performance dashboards across hospitals and Health Regions. Implementation of these initiatives is progressing this year and will support services in improving patient flow, enhancing waiting list management and making more effective use of available capacity.

The Government is also progressing the development of a national ePrescribing solution, with procurement expected to conclude later this year. Alongside wider investments in interoperability, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, these initiatives are laying the foundations for a more connected, efficient and digitally enabled health service.

Collectively, these investments are helping to ensure that information follows the patient across care settings, improving patient experience and safety, supporting healthcare professionals with timely access to information, and enabling more efficient, integrated and patient-centred care. They are also helping to improve access to services and support the broader reform measures needed to reduce waiting times.