Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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705. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the remaining four advanced nurse practitioners who were to be recruited as agreed in 2018 for the implementation of the pregnancy prevention programme and included as part of the 2022 estimates process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24548/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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706. To ask the Minister for Health when he will establish a Ministerial stakeholder group to review and strengthen current risk reduction measures in relation to the prescribing and dispensing of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential as agreed to in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24552/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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707. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the sodium valproate inquiry announced in November 2020; when the terms of reference will be published; the make-up of the membership of the inquiry; when the inquiry will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24553/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 to 707, inclusive, together.

Department of Health officials are engaging with patient groups and other stakeholders regarding the terms of reference for an inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate. The timeframe for the inquiry has yet to be decided. The HSE has submitted a request to the Department for four epilepsy nurse specialist posts to assist in the implementation of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme related to the use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing age; the HSE and other stakeholders will be notified as soon as a decision is reached on this application. The Department is currently working to establish a stakeholder group on sodium valproate.