Written answer
Patient Files
The Minister said a single total for digitising all health records cannot be identified because digital-health spending covers 44 broad programmes. Capital investment rose from about €95 million in 2020 to €263 million in 2026, with future funding to be determined through annual Estimates and National Development Plan allocations.
3459. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent to date in preparation for the digitalisation of all health records; the projected budgets over the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56455/26]
Comment on this
Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024–2030 sets out the Government's roadmap for the digital transformation of health and social care services and provides a clear pathway towards the full digitisation of healthcare records and information systems in Ireland.
The Programme for Government commits to continuing work towards the full digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems. In support of this objective, significant investment has been made in digital health infrastructure, systems and programmes over a number of years. Investment in digital health supports a broad range of programmes and infrastructure across the health service and is not solely attributable to electronic health records. Accordingly, it is not possible to identify a single figure representing expenditure on the digitalisation of all health records.
Investment in digital health supports a wide range of national, regional and local initiatives, including the HSE Health App, the National Shared Care Record, the National Electronic Health Record (EHR) Programme, ePrescribing, the National Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS), digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, interoperability and data platforms. Currently there are 44 major programmes defined with multiples of projects contained within each. All are aligned with Digital for Care.
Capital investment in digital health has grown significantly in recent years, reflecting the priority being placed on digital transformation across the health service. Government has increased capital investment in digital health from approximately €95 million in 2020 to €263 million in 2026 reflecting its true commitment under the Programme for Government.
This investment is supporting the implementation of the Digital for Care framework and the delivery of key national programmes that will progressively replace fragmented and paper-based health records with secure, interoperable digital systems. These programmes are being delivered through a phased approach comprising the HSE Health App, the National Shared Care Record and the National Electronic Health Record Programme.
The National Electronic Health Record Programme represents one of the most ambitious transformation programmes ever undertaken within the Irish health service. The programme will provide a single, integrated electronic health record across publicly funded hospitals and community healthcare services and is a key component of Ireland's long-term strategy to modernise healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.
Funding requirements beyond 2026 will be considered by Government as part of the annual Estimates process and future National Development Plan capital allocations. Given the scale and long-term nature of the digital transformation programme, investment in digital health infrastructure and electronic health records is expected to remain a priority over the lifetime of the Digital for Care framework.