3629. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Government's digitalisation strategy. [61988/26]

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 progressive digitisation of healthcare records and information systems in Ireland.

The Government is pursuing a phased approach to the digitalisation of health records through three complementary national programmes: the HSE Health App, the National Shared Care Record (NSCR) and the National Electronic Health Record (EHR) Programme. Together, these initiatives are improving access to health information for patients and healthcare professionals and laying the foundations for a fully digital health service.

Furthermore the Programme for Government published in January 2025 committed to

• Continue to work towards the full digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems.

• Launch a National Patient App, giving patients easier access to their health information.

• Establish a national system for electronic prescribing.

• Develop an AI in Health strategy.

• Promote greater use of remote health monitoring and virtual care solutions.

1. Since the publication of Digital for Care in May 2024 and the Programme for Government, we have made significant in the digitisation of Irish Health records and information systems. This is reflected in the EU Digital Decade report that has seen Ireland progress from a score of 0% in 2022 to 44% currently.

2. The National Patient App 'HSE App' was launched in Feb 2025 and the latest release (V6.0) was published on Apple and Google Play stores in July 2026.

3. The National Electronic Prescribing service is in procurement. Vendors have been shortlisted ahead of a competitive dialogue process that is about to commence.

4. An AI strategy specifically for health 'AI for Care' was published by the Department and launched by the Minister in March of this year. We believe this is one of only four dedicate AI strategies for health, internationally. More recently HIQA published complementary 'National Guidance for the Responsible and Safe Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health and Social Care Services' being expanded through 2026.

5. Additional community virtual wards are being established following very positive feedback from patients in the areas where they were trialled eh COPD community virtual ward, Letterkenny