John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. It gives me an opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health.

The neuro-rehabilitation strategy implementation framework was launched in February 2019. The overarching aim of the strategy is the development of neuro-rehabilitation services to improve outcomes for people by providing safe, high-quality, person-centred neuro-rehabilitation at the lowest appropriate level of complexity. Services must be integrated across the care pathway and provided as close to home as possible.

Specialist neuro-rehabilitation services being established under the neuro-rehabilitation strategy will provide earlier access to specialist rehabilitation that improves people's outcomes, reducing their neuro-rehabilitation needs, enhancing function and reducing the supports required as they transition back into their communities.

As part of the strategy, the HSE is in the process of expanding the number of community neuro-rehabilitation teams across the country. The current position is that in 2025 four new teams have been recruited and will be operational this year. Some areas have partial teams in place but some areas, including Dublin and the north-east regional health area, have no teams in place currently.

Moving forward with the neuro-rehabilitation strategy, the aim is to enhance the existing CNRTs and fund those areas that do not have a community team to create a large population-based team within each regional health area.

A substantial amount of additional funding was provided for the continued implementation of the neuro-rehabilitation strategy in budget 2026. The details will be set out in the national service plan in 2026, which is due to be published shortly.

I take on board the points the Deputy has raised on behalf of her communities in the north east in relation to the absence of a team in her area. I will take back what she said to the Minister for Health.

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