3892. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline the next steps in the National Electronic Health Record (EHR) project, once a shortlist of vendors has been created; the current timeline being worked towards for full implementation of the EHR project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58094/26]

The next steps in the National Electronic Health Record (EHR) project, once a shortlist of vendors has been created is to secure approval of the detailed business case as required under Government Infrastructure Guidelines www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/infrastructure-guidelines/

That will permit the HSE to commence the next stage in the procurement process, which is the competitive dialogue process. Given the scale and complex nature of this programme, we anticipate competitive dialogue could take 12 months from approval at Gate 2. That will be followed by a stage where contractual details are finalised before reverting to Government, as required under gate 3 of the infrastructure guidelines, for a formal decision to process based on actual costs. Investment in the national EHR programme will then extend over a period of 7 to 10 years, with incremental delivery of capabilities over that period, rather than a 'big bang' approach.