Ireland has published its first national artificial intelligence strategy for health and social care, establishing a five-year framework for the deployment of AI technologies across clinical practice, hospital operations, research, and public health — with clinician oversight at its core.

Euractiv reported that the strategy, titled AI for Care and covering the period 2026 to 2030, was launched on 11 March at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin, with mandatory human oversight and compliance with the EU AI Act among the central safeguards governing its rollout.

AI scribe tools are expected to cut clinicians' documentation time by up to 40%, freeing healthcare professionals to spend more time on direct patient care rather than administrative tasks.

In radiology, certified AI solutions will enable faster reading of X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to support earlier detection of strokes, cancers, and fractures, building on outcomes already being reported in the Irish health system.

AI-supported discharge planning will be introduced to reduce patient delays, while AI-driven forecasting tools will target waste reduction and the automation of high-volume administrative processes across health services.

The strategy also covers AI tools for national screening services, aiming to boost capacity and reduce turnaround times for patients awaiting test results.

Forthcoming national guidance from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will govern the safe and transparent use of AI, with the Health Service Executive (HSE) set to publish a complementary AI Implementation Framework to ensure consistent rollout across all health regions.

The National Electronic Health Record programme, which underpins the data infrastructure required for AI integration, is also advancing through procurement, with vendor shortlisting completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Explore the full details of Ireland's AI for Care strategy.