Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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220. To ask the Minister for Health if adequate funding support is available to identify and treat rare diseases; if such diagnoses can trigger a rapid response particularly in respect of the lesser known rare diseases; if such a provision will be made at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36352/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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221. To ask the Minister for Health the number of person who have rare diseases awaiting a decision in respect of reimbursement for medication; the number of cases still awaiting a diagnosis and access to treatment and reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36353/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines to all patients, including for the treatment of rare diseases, as quickly as possible.

Budget 2021 allocated €50 million for the reimbursement of new drugs. This enabled the HSE to approve fifty-two new medicines, nineteen of which were for the treatment of rare diseases. Budget 2022 allocated a further €30 million for the reimbursement of new medicines and as of 26 May the HSE has approved thirty new drugs in 2022, three of which are for the treatment of rare diseases.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible in relation to the service matters raised in this question.