Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1266. To ask the Minister for Health if he will set aside funding to implement the National Cancer strategy 2017-2026 recommendations in relation to genetic services, by reducing genetic service wait times in order to optimise health benefit advancement in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28253/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 is a Programme for Government commitment and is part of the implementation of Sláintecare. We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past six years, with clear evidence-based policy direction from my Department and strong implementation by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). The Strategy contains a number of recommendations relating to genetics in cancer services, including the provision of a national genetics service.

The National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland was published in December 2022. One of the key ambitions of this Strategy is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. The Strategy outlines a plan to achieve this ambition by improving the evidence-base and infrastructure supporting genetic testing in Ireland.

A key step in building a strong genetics service is addressing our current staffing needs in this area and ensuring national genetic testing capacity is strategically delivered. These objectives will be achieved largely through the planned National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics. The HSE will begin developing this Directory by the 2023 year end. It will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland, provide a more transparent process to referrals, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of our future genetic staffing needs. This development, therefore, will be a key steppingstone to improving national genetic testing and ultimately help reduce waiting times.

The National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland also outlines a plan to build a strong genetic workforce for the future. This will be achieved by not only recruiting new staff, but training and development for a future workforce, and professional development for current staff within the health service. To start implementing the Strategy in 2023, I approved €2.7 million including the appointment of key staff. These appointments included a National Director for Genetics and Genomics, a Bioinformatics Lab Director, two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1267. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence funding for the implementation of the Genomic Strategy, to ensure that all child, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) patients aged between 16-25 years have access to genome sequencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28254/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland. One of the key ambitions the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland, launched in December 2022, is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. The Strategy outlines a plan to achieve this ambition by improving the evidence-base and infrastructure supporting genetic testing in Ireland. This evidence base will ensure the allocation of resources is targeted on areas of the most significant need and support patient access across the Health Regions in line with the Sláintecare vision. While there are currently no plans to ring-fence funding for CAYA patients, the evidence base that is currently in development will inform any future funding decisions.

In 2023, I allocated €2.7 million to support the Strategy’s initial implementation. This funding was focused on the recruitment of key front-line staff and National Office roles and the operationalisation of a multi-stakeholder implementation steering group.

Recruitment of Front-line Staff

The allocation of front-line staff will be determined by an operating model for genetics and genomics. The Interim Director and Interim National Clinical Director will be responsible for progressing this. However, to address current demand, some front-line posts have been progressed ahead of the completion of this operating model. Recruitment for the following positions in currently underway:

• Consultant Clinical Geneticist at Galway University Hospital
• Genetic Counsellor at Galway University Hospital
• Genetic Counsellor at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin
• Genetic Counsellor at Beaumont Hospital
• Genetic Counsellor at St James/St Vincent’s
• 2 Genomic Resource Associates (Grave V) at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin