I understand that, as part of its emerging strategy for Information and Communications Technology which is expected to be completed later this year, the Health Service Executive is considering how Telemedicine and Telecare facilities can be best deployed to remotely monitor and provide services to patients, including those with chronic conditions, thus reducing the need to travel for medical consultations. Developments in this area will be particularly beneficial to those living in island communities.
Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to respond in more detail to the query raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter further investigated and to arrange to provide more specific detail on the progress made to-date in this area directly to the Deputy.