Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Children's Health Ireland has produced a strategy and there is a national strategy for accelerating genetics and genomics medicine to build a strong national genetics service. It was launched in December 2022. It is important. It is key to improving the evidence base and infrastructural support in genetic testing. The HSE is currently examining national testing capacity and developing a national testing directory for genetics and genomics which will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland, providing a more transparent process for referrals. A sum of €2.7 million was approved and key staff were appointed in the newly established national genetics and genomics office. These appointments include a national director for genetics and genomics a bio-informatics laboratory director, two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic consultants. Budget 2024 allocated a further €1.9 million to fund additional front-line posts, laboratory expenditure and staff training. There is no fear for the service, but the Deputy asked about the physical location. I will come back to him on that.

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