Written Answers Nos. 661-672
661. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to progress the lymphoedema and lipoedema model of care further to successful outcomes from Proof-of-Concept services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13894/26]
View answerAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
662. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the draft Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13895/26]
View answerI intend to bring the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill to Government in the coming weeks for approval to publish.
663. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the aspects of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomic Medicine that will be progressed in 2026; the funding that will be required to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13896/26]
View answerThe primary objective for 2026 is the operationalisation of critical infrastructure and standardisation of clinical pathways to eliminate regional variations in service delivery and ensure equitable access to genomic diagnostics nationwide. The specific aspects that will be progressed in 2026 to achieve this objective, are 1) launching the National Genomic Processing Service (NGPS), 2) development of the bioinformatics roadmap, 3) development of the Clinical Genomics Model of Care, and 4) progressing the proposal to develop the National Genomic Medicine Centre (NGMC)
Launch of the NGPS: Operational as of 16 February 2026, this service based at Beaumont Hospital acts as the central national hub for genomic samples. The NGPS currently manages samples specifically for clinical indications within Version 1 of the National Genomic Test Directory for Rare and Inherited Disease. This ensures that patients falling within these specific categories have access to the same high-standard tests regardless of their location.
Development of the Bioinformatics Roadmap: This is scheduled for delivery by Q2 2026. This will define the requirements for handling genomic data sets, connecting the national framework to the wider health service and ensuring data remains securely stored within Ireland.
Development of the Clinical Genomics Model of Care: The working group, which includes patients and advocates, is meeting throughout 2026 to finalise a framework for regionally delivered genomic services. This project is intended to ensure clinical teams are equipped to utilise genomic data within routine patient care.
Planning and development of the NGMC: The formal Business Case and Strategic Assessment will be progressed during the 2026 period. This centre is intended to eventually co-locate national genetics services under a single governance structure.
The National Genetics and Genomics Office and Genomic Medicine Services require a dedicated recurrent budget of €4.5 million to fund specialist roles, alongside the services and infrastructure mentioned above. This funding is in addition to separate strategy funding provided across cancer and rare disease genomic medicine support. Any future capital investment requirements will be identified through the Capital Investment Fund.
664. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the aspects of the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care that will be progressed in 2026; the funding that will be required to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13897/26]
View answerThe HSE National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) Hereditary Cancer Model of Care aims to enhance equity of access to genetic services for individuals and families at increased risk of cancer due to inherited predispositions.
There are six thematic areas under this Model of Care. Each of these has made good progress with the following actions under each theme planned over the coming 12 months:
Thematic Area 1: Establish oversight for the implementation of the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care. Under this area the HSE will agree areas for collaboration with the National Genetics and Genomics Office, agree an overarching governance framework for hereditary cancer service and report on progress in implementation.
Thematic Area 2: Development of networked services and Multi Disciplinary Teams (MDTs). In 2026, work will be progressed to define the process(es) by which genetic counselling services can be networked and made accessible regionally. The NCCP will also develop standardised pathways to national specialist cancer genetics MDTs for both adults and Children, Adolescent & Young Adults (CAYA).
Thematic Area 3: Healthcare professional education and training. The HSE aims to develop an accredited online programme to meet the minimal learning needs of staff working in regional services.
Thematic Area 4: Clinical guidance and pathway development. The HSE will agree the guidance development and approval process, in line with HSE policy, including guidance on laboratory testing.
Thematic Area 5: Patient Information and supports. Work will be progressed to establish subgroups for the development of patient information, according to common presentations and cancer predispositions. Work will also be progressed on developing platform(s) through which patient information can be most easily accessed.
Thematic Area 6: Data Requirements and IT Infrastructure. Work in this area will involve examining potential data capture options with the National Cancer Information System and agreeing the minimum datasets for common presentations and cancer predispositions.
With regards to funding to support this work in 2026, the NCCP has recommended the allocation of a number of National Service Plan 2026 service development posts, to further progress implementation of the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care. These included an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (BRCA) at St James’s Hospital; a Consultant Medical Oncologist (special interest in Genetics) at St Vincent’s University Hospital; two Grade V administrative support posts for cancer predisposition services and a number of Senior Psychologist posts to focus on services for those with a genetic cancer predisposition.
Funding for new service development posts under NSP 2026 has been allocated to HSE Health Regions.
665. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) screening within the national newborn bloodspot screening programme; the target date for the rollout of SMA screening to all newborns; the Government’s ongoing commitment to expanding the newborn screening programme to include additional rare diseases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13898/26]
View answerAs Minister for Health, I am determined to support our screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Currently, all babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’ test), which tests for nine rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life. The Programme for Government commits to continually reviewing the number of conditions babies are screened for.
Incremental progress continues to be made on the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP). In 2023, two recommendations from the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) on the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NNBSP were approved.
In Budget 2024, an additional €1.4 million of new development funding was provided to support the SMA/SCID implementation process. Once both conditions have been fully implemented, the number of conditions screened for in Ireland will increase to 11.
In terms of the current implementation status, the HSE has advised that the equipment needed to enable the roll-out testing for SMA and SCID has been purchased, delivered and successfully installed at the newborn screening laboratory and significant progress continues with regards to the laboratory verification process. The recruitment process to hire the additional staff required to support the expansion of the NNBSP has been completed and work on developing screening and treatment pathways for both conditions is in its final stages.
It is expected that screening for both SCID and SMA will commence later this year.
In relation to concerns raised around the length of the implementation process, it should be emphasised that Ireland is not taking longer than other comparable countries to assess and implement additions to the NNBSP.
The Health Council of the Netherlands first recommended screening for SMA in 2019 and implementation was completed three years later in October 2022. In the United States of America, it took six years to fully implement SMA screening after it was added to the
Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in 2018. In the United Kingdom, screening for SCID and SMA have been under consideration by the UK National Screening Committee since 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Nevertheless, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. This is why I remain committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice.
666. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will address the exclusion of some general practices from the revised social deprivation practice grant (details supplied); if she will take urgent steps to amend the way in which deprivation is measured given the serious flaws identified in the current categorisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13926/26]
View answerThe HSE, Department of Health, GP representatives and representatives of GPs working in areas of deprivation reached agreement in late 2025 to improve the targeting of the social deprivation grant for GPs which has been available since 2020.
The 2019 GP Agreement introduced the grant to support GPs in socially deprived areas to provide additional services. It had been intended that allocation of this grant would be on the basis of a recognised deprivation index but work to do this was not possible in 2020 in the context of the Covid pandemic. Grants were therefore allocated in the years 2020 to 2024 on the basis of applications received from GPs.
It had always been intended that the grant allocation process would use a data analysis approach, based on GEO coding of GP practices and using a recognised deprivation index, in this case Pobal’s HP Deprivation Index which is widely recognised and used. This approach, as noted previously, was agreed with the GP representative body and GPs representing areas of deprivation. It is intended that this cooperative and data-based approach will continue.
667. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners have been provided with guidelines with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder; if so, to provide a copy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13927/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
668. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to the publication of a comprehensive framework outlining a programme for the diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, encompassing a multidisciplinary contribution from general practitioners, psychiatric and gynaecological specialists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13928/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
669. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the research her Department is consulting or conducting with respect to the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13929/26]
View answer670. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the research her Department is consulting or conducting with respect to diagnostic pathways for people with premenstrual dysphoric disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13930/26]
View answer671. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide details on any public awareness programmes or campaigns that her Department or the HSE has carried out to inform people of the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13931/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 669 to 671, inclusive, together.
I have recently approved funding for the development of a menstrual health awareness campaign which is currently being developed by the HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme.
The HSE have proposed an evidence-based approach to designing and undertaking this broad campaign. The first phase will involve a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of current attitudes, behaviours and knowledge of all relevant topics. This important research will underpin and guide the direction of the awareness campaign, which aims to balance information regarding what is normal versus what could be abnormal, and will focus on a range of menstrual health disorders and associated conditions. It is envisaged that a key product out of this research phase will be the development of a communications strategy with recommendations on specific areas requiring focus.
I have also approved funding for the HRB Applied Partnerships Award Scheme specifically for Women’s Health. Up to €1 million from the Department of Health’s Women's Health Fund will be made available for the Women’s Health Applied Partnership Scheme for both 2026 and 2027.
Research themes have been determined and are informed by Ministerial priorities, outcomes of various listening exercises with women, the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce and the HRB’s Women’s health outcomes: An evidence and gap map review commissioned by the Department and published in 2025. Menstrual health is one of the priority themes identified and applications are welcomed on all aspects of this area of women's health, including PMDD.
As the first research programme of this kind in the area of women's health, alongside specific themes focused on areas of unmet need, we are also including a general women's health theme. It is hoped that this dual approach will stimulate interest from a wide range of disciplines and open the door towards filling this longstanding gap in women's health research.
The research call went out to the research community in January 2026 with a deadline submission date of the end of March 2026.
672. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of people on a waiting list for pre-exposure prophylaxis, by clinic; and the wait time to be offered a new appointment in each clinic, in tabular form. [13935/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
