HIQA has today published Ireland’s first ever National Guidance for the Responsible and Safe Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health and Social Care Services. The national guidance was commissioned by the Department of Health, and was developed by HIQA in collaboration with the Department of Health, the HSE and a variety of partners across the health and social care sector. 

The purpose of the national guidance is to promote awareness and build good practice among services and staff about the responsible and safe use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health and social care. It is intended for use by all services providing health and social care in Ireland, and is also designed to educate and empower people using these services about what to expect when AI is used in their care.

The national guidance is structured using HIQA’s four principles for person-centred care and support: accountability, a human rights-based approach, safety and wellbeing, and responsiveness. It includes examples of how services and staff can uphold each principle while using AI, along with practical information relating to topics like governance, transparency and public engagement to help minimise potential risks.

HIQA’s national guidance acknowledges that AI is already being used to address challenges in health and social care services, with recent advancements expanding the possible use cases, such as streamlining administrative tasks, supporting diagnostics by identifying patterns in scans, and predicting medical outcomes which can enable preventative measures. 

However, it highlights that health and social care is a safety-critical area, and any new technology must be deemed safe and trustworthy before use. Accountability is considered the foundation for the responsible and safe use of AI, and robust governance and clear lines of accountability need to be embedded when AI is used within services to ensure care remains person centred.

Commenting on today’s publication of the national guidance, HIQA’s Director of Health Information and Standards, Rachel Flynn, said:

“As AI becomes increasingly embedded in health and social care services, the publication of this national guidance provides practical direction to help organisations and staff harness these opportunities while ensuring that patient safety, transparency and accountability remain at the forefront.

Rachel Flynn continued:

“We undertook a collaborative process to inform the guidance, working closely with the Department of Health and HSE. We are grateful to the many service providers, staff, members of the public and researchers who contributed to the development of this guidance. Their valuable insights highlighted the need for clear, timely guidance to support decision-making and protect the rights of people using services, and have helped shape a resource that is practical, relevant and responsive to the emerging challenges and opportunities associated with the use of AI in health and social care services.”

The National Guidance for the Responsible and Safe Use of AI in Health and Social Care Services builds on HIQA’s existing national standards for health and social care services and supports their implementation in practice. As HIQA updates and develops its national standards, the role of digital technologies, including AI, will be further incorporated to ensure that innovation is introduced in a way that delivers benefits while maintaining public trust, patient safety, and effective and person-centred care and support.

ENDS

Further information:

Caoimhe O’Connell, Communications Manager, caoconnell@hiqa.ie, 087 639 5916

Notes for Editor: 

• HIQA has today published the following documents: 
  • National Guidance for the Responsible and Safe Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health and Social Care Services
  • Stakeholder Involvement Report: National Guidance for the Responsible and Safe Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health and Social Care Services.
• HIQA undertook an evidence review to inform the development of the guidance. This was published in January 2026 and is available on the HIQA website. 
• The Department of Health, the HSE and HIQA have progressed a coordinated programme of work to ensure the accountable and safe use of AI. Key publications include the AI for Care Strategy, HIQA’s national guidance and the HSE’s AI Implementation Framework. 
• HIQA undertook an evidence-based and collaborative approach to develop the national guidance. This included a public scoping consultation, a public consultation, focus groups and expert interviews to inform the development of the guidance. Further information about the stakeholder activity can be found in the Stakeholder Involvement Report. HIQA also undertook an evidence review which aimed to synthesise concepts and guidance on the responsible and safe use of AI in health and social care settings. The evidence review was published in January 2026 and is available on the HIQA website.
• The use of AI tools must be guided by appropriate safeguards and be in compliance with legal obligations, including those set out in the EU AI Act. AI use will be guided by the EU AI Act which outlines legislative responsibilities when using AI across all sectors including health and social care. Other relevant legislation at the EU level include the Medical Device Regulations and General Data Protection Regulation.
• Ireland has developed legislation to provide for the full implementation of the EU AI Act at a national level. The Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 passed through the Seanad on 15 July. The purpose of the Bill is to support the establishment of the AI Office of Ireland, outline Ireland’s AI regulatory structures, designate the competent authorities and implement the EU AI Act consistently without adding national requirements. 
• HIQA’s Learning Hub provides links to online learning courses, guides and videos for front-line staff, students and academics, as well as people using health and social care services. These materials support the implementation of national standards and the development of good practice. 

About HIQA

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent body that promotes safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services in Ireland. 

Through its regulation, standard setting and evidence to inform decision-making functions, HIQA supports health and social care services to consistently deliver excellent standards of care and the best possible health and social care outcomes for all.