HealthData@EU and @HealthData@IE
HealthData@EU will provide the European infrastructure required to enable secure cross-border access to health data. In Ireland, the DOH is responsible for establishing a national Health Data Access Body (HDAB) through HealthData@IE. This project will deliver on the infrastructure needed for secondary use health data access that is compliant with the EHDS Regulation and interoperable with the HealthData@EU platform.
HealthData@IE is being delivered via a DoH collaboration with the Health Research Board (HRB), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Why HealthData@IE is important
- Ensures Ireland meets its obligations under the EHDS Regulation
- Supports the development of a secure, standardised framework for health data use
- Enables safe access to health data for research, policy, and innovation
- Strengthens privacy, transparency, and public trust
- Contributes to improved healthcare outcomes and decision-making
DAAMS Specification Overview
HealthData@IE is structured into eight work packages. HRB leads Work Package 5, which focuses on developing the DAAMS specification. DAAMS aims to support the secure application, tracking, and approval process for access to health data for secondary use.
Serving as the centralised national platform for the HDAB, DAAMS will support the full lifecycle of data access applications, including the issuance of permits for health data use, as well as the monitoring of permit conditions, expirations, revocations, and the handling of appeals.
HealthData@IE Work Packages
WP1 – MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION: WP1 will establish the appropriate management structure for the implementation of the project.
WP2 – DISSEMINATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT: This WP will raise awareness among citizens, data holders and data users of the functions and responsibilities of the Health Data Access Body (HDAB) and will conduct training initiatives and orchestrate support initiatives for HDAB staff, data holders, and data users.
WP3 – EVALUATION: The evaluation work package will include performance monitoring and evaluation activities to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the digital business capabilities in scope of this application.
WP4 – SUSTAINABILITY: This work package will ensure that the digital business capabilities implemented in the scope of this project have a sustainability plan and business continuity plan beyond the duration of the grant.
WP5 – DATA ACCESS APPLICATIONS SYSTEM SPECIFICATION: The DAAMS work package aims to develop the system specification to enable the HDAB to receive, process, and respond to data access applications.
WP6 – NATIONAL DATASET CATALOGUE FOR HEALTH DATA: This WP aims to enable the HDAB to provide data users with a way to discover and assess the utility of existing health datasets for the data users’ intended purpose.
WP7 – SECURE PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALTH DATA: The secure processing environment work package will ensure the secure processing of electronic health data according to strong technical and security safeguards.
WP8 – HEALTH DATA QUALITY ENHANCEMENT: The aim of WP8 is to enhance the quality of electronic health data made available through the HDAB.
DAAMS Timeline
The WP5 DAAMS IT Specification Document is due for completion by end of December 2026.
Beyond this phase, and subject to future governance and delivery arrangements being confirmed, DAAMS in Ireland is expected to move into an operational rollout phase from 2027 to 2031, with services going live, permits being issued, and integration with EU infrastructure being established.
Between 2029 and 2031, the programme will focus on expanding data access capabilities and strengthening interoperability across the EHDS, resulting in a mature EU-wide ecosystem for health data access.
Beyond 2031, the system will enter full maturity, with DAAMS embedded within a fully operational Irish HDAB and HealthData@EU eco-system, enabling enhanced cross-border access to health data for secondary use
The HRB team
The core team is composed of Bríd Burke, Programme Manager, HRB, and Mary Quirke, Programme Officer, HRB.
The team is receiving IT consultancy support from Lisa Gough (Clarion Consulting)
