Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive update. It is very positive news. I sincerely hope that the recruitment of the additional three or four whole-time equivalents happens and that it does not fall into the HSE ambitious plans for recruitment that does not happen.This is specialised and critical and I imagine it will have to be an international recruitment process. The reason people want adults to avail of Kuvan, in particular, relates to the fact they have seen its success with children and the difference it makes. The adults the Minister of State mentioned who are continuing to use it in their lives following the trial have benefited from it.

Given there are clear benefits and the results speak for themselves, it is essential that this happens. I sincerely hope the recruitment will happen in 2022, with Kuvan rolled out this year also. The Minister of State might stress to the HSE, perhaps even in writing to the chief executive, the need to put this on the priority recruitment radar, even above and beyond other recruitment, in order that it will be made a top priority of the HSE.