Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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342. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to implement the motion passed by Dáil Éireann on 28 March 2018 regarding HPV vaccination; the expected timeframe to extend the national HPV vaccination programme to provide universal HPV vaccination to both boys and girls here; if a budget for universal HPV vaccination subject to the pending outcome of the health technology assessment carried out by HIQA will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26415/18]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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344. To ask the Minister for Health if a costing assessment has been carried out on the potential extension of the HPV vaccination to boys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26417/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together.

There was an extensive debate on the safety of the HPV vaccine and its efficacy in preventing the development of cervical cancer in this House on 28 March last in which a motion was passed unanimously which recognised that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects young girls from developing a cervical cancer when they grow up, supported the campaign to encourage parents to avail of the HPV vaccine for their children in their first year of secondary school, and called for the programme to be extended to include boys.

The Health Information and Quality Authority is undertaking a health technology assessment, at the request of my Department, on extending the national immunisation schedule to include HPV vaccination of boys.  This HTA will establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of providing the vaccine to boys. The decision to extend the current programme which offers HPV vaccination to all girls in their first year of second-level education to a programme that also offers vaccination to boys will be informed by the evidence contained in the HTA.

As I said during the debate, I share the Deputy's view that it should be concluded as quickly as possible and, subject to a favourable HTA, I will seek to extend this vaccine universally as a priority.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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343. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of public information campaigns related to the HSE’s national immunisation office in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; if the budget responsibility for such campaigns lies solely with the office; his plans to increase this budget to maintain the growth in vaccine confidence seen in 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26416/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this PQ relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.