Further to Government approval on 5 February 2026 of a national Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, a clear governance and accountability framework has been put in place to support the next stage of the programme needed to deliver of this major national digital investment in our health service.
It should also be noted that the programme has already been subjected to multiple internal reviews at the HSE and the Department of Health as well as two independent reviews – the External Assurance Process (EAP) and Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) reviews as part of the Government Infrastructure Guidelines for major capital investment programmes. These reviews informed the decision by Government to proceed to the next stage in this programme.
Additionally, this programme is also subject to ongoing independent reviews by an external peer review group, which will examine the programme at key milestones. These reviews will complement more rigorous governance and oversight regimes that are being developed and expanded out as the programme progresses through the various phases of procurement, contract signing and implementation.
The programme is being led by the most senior clinical and non-clinical executive leadership team at the Health Service Executive (HSE) including the Deputy CEO/ Chief Technology Transformation Officer (CTTO) and Chief Clinical Officer (CCO). The Department of Health provides overall policy oversight and assurance and leads on governance arrangements in line with Government capital and digital investment frameworks including DPER’s Infrastructure Guidelines, ensuring appropriate oversight, assurance and accountability across all stages of delivery.
The national EHR programme is being progressed as a core component of the Government’s wider digital health policy as defined by Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024–2030, and aligns with Sláintecare reform objectives. The terms of reference of the Sláintecare Programme Board, that is co-chaired by the CEO of the HSE and the Secretary General of the Department of Health, were updated in October 2024 to ensure that Slaintecare and Digital for Care were both subject to the most senior level of Governance and Oversight.
Accountability across Departments and agencies is maintained through established inter-agency governance and reporting structures. These include clear delineation of responsibilities between the Department of Health and the HSE, formal sponsorship and ownership arrangements, and regular engagement at senior official level to oversee delivery, manage dependencies, and address cross-government issues arising in areas such as procurement, cyber security, data protection and workforce readiness
The Government recognises that the successful delivery of a national EHR is foundational to the modernisation of Ireland’s health service. It will support safer, more integrated care, strengthen clinical accountability, and enable the secure and appropriate use of health information across care settings over time.
