On 19 February, the Irish government published a new National Digital and AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future. The Strategy builds on Ireland’s reputation as both a digital hub and for having a strong innovation ecosystem, while continuing to be a powerful voice in Europe for a digital economy that supports innovation.
The strategy includes 90 deliverables across several departments and agencies, including the Department of Health. Described in the report as being part of ‘a transformational change in how we deliver public services’, the report outlines several ways Irish healthcare will continue to be strengthened by digital technologies and artificial intelligence. This includes implementation of the Digital for Care 2030 strategy, a national electronic prescribing service by 2028, and digitalisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems by 2032. The report outlines that these measures to modernise digital infrastructure are essential to improve both patient outcomes and health services efficiency.
Crucially, the report outlines that in the first quarter of 2026, the ‘AI for Care: Ireland’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Healthcare’ will be launched. This framework will focus on leveraging AI across four areas:
- AI for Clinical Care: to ensure patients receive faster treatment and care that meets their needs.
- AI for Operations: to improve system efficiencies and productivity through shortening waiting times and ensuring coordinated and responsive care.
- AI for Research & Innovation: to support the development of new treatments, diagnostics and therapies for better health outcomes.
- AI for Public Health: to strengthen public health initiatives, help detect health risks earlier and deliver more targeted prevention efforts.
The report further outlines the role of digital technologies and AI as one of the drivers of strategic growth for foreign direct investment. To promote such investment, it outlines how the government will support enhanced and targeted research and development supports for several sectors, including health and digital services.
The report recognises, however, that supporting measures must accompany these frameworks. This includes strong data governance and adequate workforce training. Regarding data governance, the Strategy notes the highly sensitive nature of health data, which requires it to be handled in compliance with GDPR and ethical standards. This must further be supported with clear governance frameworks to ensure responsible use of patient data.
For digital transformation to transpire within Ireland’s healthcare service, it is essential for healthcare professionals to feel supported with both their capacity and skillset, which would involve several components. Training programmes would be required to integrate digital tools into daily clinical practice, which would involve upskilling healthcare professionals in digital literacy and AI awareness. Further, health services need to recruit specialist expertise to ensure digital transformations are both smooth and structured. With these measures, digital technologies can be more efficiently assimilated into health services.
The National Digital and AI Strategy places digital transformation as a vital pillar for the future development of Ireland’s healthcare services. Through clear timelines and the implementation of the Digital for Care framework, the strategy indicates a structured commitment to modernising health infrastructure. The forthcoming ‘AI for Care’ framework further indicates an intention to integrate artificial intelligence across clinical care, research and public health with a coordinated and strategic approach.
