Ireland’s Public Service Transformation Week 2026 will bring public bodies together on Thursday, 12 November for a wide-ranging programme focused on digital innovation, artificial intelligence, healthcare reform, workforce development and better public services.
Published by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on 14 October 2026, the schedule features in-person and online events for departments, agencies and public servants across the country.
Public Service Transformation Week 2026: Key themes
The programme reflects the Government’s focus on modernising how services are designed and delivered. Sessions will examine practical ways to use technology while maintaining strong governance, staff participation and public trust.
Among the main themes are:
- Responsible and people-centred use of artificial intelligence
- Digital preservation of State records
- Apprenticeships and future workforce skills
- Healthcare access, patient flow and planned care
- Operational excellence and local authority innovation
AI, digital delivery and public sector capability
The Department of Transport will host an online session on introducing AI safely and effectively. Its discussion will cover governance, employee engagement, learning and responsible experimentation.
Other events include a Department of Children, Disability and Equality session on delivering digital projects, alongside a knowledge café led by Bord Bia examining collective capability, peer learning, knowledge management and AI-enabled collaboration.
The National Archives will also outline work to protect Ireland’s State records in the digital age, including a lifecycle framework and plans for digital preservation infrastructure.
Healthcare reform and better access
Several events will focus on health service transformation. The HSE Access Accelerator webinar will showcase projects designed to reduce waiting times in dermatology, ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat services, and plastic surgery.
St James’s Hospital will share how Lean visual management, multidisciplinary meetings and digital tools improved visibility of patient flow, bed capacity and discharge planning. The Sláintecare webinar will explore healthcare reform, access, capacity, quality and the shift of care into community settings.
Skills, apprenticeships and local innovation
A Public Service Apprenticeship Employer Symposium will provide guidance for HR, recruitment, learning and development and workforce-planning professionals. The Department says apprentice registrations reached 286 in 2025, compared with 67 in 2022, with 566 apprentices across the Civil and Public Service.
Clare County Council will present examples of how GIS applications and dashboards can turn operational information into practical insights for local authority services, including housing inspections and other field work.
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What the programme means for public services
Public Service Transformation Week 2026 demonstrates that reform is not limited to new software. It also involves workforce planning, records management, service design, healthcare coordination and better use of operational data.
The events will be relevant to organisations across the Irish public sector, including bodies working with gov.ie, the Health Service Executive, local authorities, education, transport and digital government. Registration details vary, with some sessions open to all public service bodies and others restricted to invited or internal participants.
Conclusion
Public Service Transformation Week 2026 offers a practical look at how Ireland is improving public services through responsible AI, stronger skills, healthcare innovation and evidence-led management. Its central takeaway is clear: successful transformation depends on technology working alongside people, sound governance and collaboration across the public sector.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
