John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I acknowledge that cardiovascular health is a central pillar of health funding as part of budget 2025, which included more than €9 million in full-year costs to support important cardiovascular health initiatives. The budget commits €4 million in additional full-year costs and 45 new posts to reform how we deliver cardiac services. Since 2020, the chronic disease management programme has supported those at the greatest risk, including those with heart failure. The programme includes prevention, targeted case finding and ongoing management, which helps us to identify cardiovascular disease early, manage the condition effectively and slow or halt the disease's progression. As with anything in health, early diagnosis is really important and is key. When we were negotiating the programme for Government, I can recall that this issue got a lot of attention. The line in the programme for Government about timely access to cardiac services across all regions was an important part of those commitments. It will continue to be so as part of the budgetary allocation process going forward.