Ireland has advanced equitable access to assistive technology with the publication of a new Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment (ATA-C), conducted jointly by the Government of Ireland and WHO/Europe. The assessment provides the most comprehensive picture to date of Ireland’s capacity to deliver assistive technology, that is, tools such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, walking canes, eyeglasses and digital solutions.
The assessment shows that Ireland has made important progress in recent years, while also identifying gaps in coordination, uneven access across regions and population groups and the need for clearer governance and better financing mechanisms.
Crucially, the ATA-C proposes a comprehensive set of recommended actions to guide the development of a more unified, equitable and responsive assistive technology system, ensuring that this technology is as widely accessible as possible.
Life-changing experiences
“Assistive technology is essential for people with disabilities, older people and those living with chronic conditions to live independently, participate in society and access health and social care services,” said Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director of Health Systems at WHO/Europe. “Yet globally, access remains limited, uneven and often delayed. As this new assessment demonstrates, at WHO we continue to support countries with evidence and tools to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access the tools they need, when they need it, without suffering financial hardship.”
“This WHO report shows how assistive technology can provide life-changing experiences for people of all ages and abilities,” said Ireland’s Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, at the report’s launch in Dublin. “A student with dyslexia can use text-to-speech software to aid their learning. An older adult might rely on a walking aid to maintain independence. Assistive technology allows people to express themselves, to participate in education and employment and to live more independent and fulfilled lives.”
A system-wide assessment grounded in rights
Conducted between September 2024 and May 2025, the ATA-C for Ireland uses the WHO Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) framework to assess national capacity across 5 key domains: people, policy, products, provision and personnel.
By strengthening systems for equitable access to assistive technology, the assessment supports Ireland’s overarching vision in line with WHO’s call for strengthened efforts toward universal health coverage.
The assessment draws on extensive stakeholder engagement, including government departments, service providers, advocacy organizations and users of assistive technology. This inclusive approach helped identify both systemic strengths and persistent challenges across the assistive technology landscape.
From fragmentation to coherence
Among its key findings, the assessment emphasizes the importance of:
- strengthening governance and policy coherence across sectors;
- improving data and information systems to better understand needs and gaps;
- ensuring sustainable financing and procurement mechanisms;
- building workforce capacity and skills; and
- centring service design around users and their lived experience.
Taken together, these actions aim to move Ireland from fragmented provision towards a coherent national approach that delivers timely, affordable and appropriate assistive technology to all who need it.
Supporting national action through partnership
The ATA-C is part of WHO’s broader effort to support countries in strengthening assistive technology systems as a core component of health system performance and resilience.
“This assessment provides Ireland with a strong evidence base to guide future reforms and investments,” the report notes, highlighting the value of partnership between national authorities, service providers, civil society and international organizations.
WHO/Europe will continue to work closely with Ireland to support the translation of the assessment’s findings into concrete policy action and implementation.
As populations age and health needs grow more complex, access to assistive technology will become increasingly critical across the WHO European Region. The Ireland ATA-C underscores that strengthening assistive technology systems is not a niche issue, but a fundamental building block of inclusive, resilient health systems.