Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

There is shortfall also in respect of neurological nurses. I understand there are 42 in the State, which needs to be at least tripled. As Professor Hardiman said, this should all be done over a five-year period.

My final question probably does not relate specifically to this subject matter but I will ask it nonetheless. It concerns the medical cannabis access programme. Two of the three conditions stipulated under the programme are neurological conditions, namely, drug-resistant epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The programme has been up and running since November and only a small number of people have got access to medical cannabis. It is very frustrating for those who are trying to get access to medical cannabis via the programme. In Professor Hardiman's professional opinion, is there a role for medical cannabis, not least in respect of drug-resistant epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions for which good evidence has shown efficacy in respect of medical cannabis intervention?