Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland. One of the key ambitions of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland, launched in December 2022, is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. In line with the principles of Sláintecare, we will continue to support the enhancement of genetic services across the Regional Health Areas (RHAs). This service will be supported by a National Office for Genetics and Genomics, who will work with RHAs to ensure the effective delivery of a national service at a local level.

The Strategy also outlines a plan to achieve this ambition by improving the evidence-base and infrastructure supporting genetic testing in Ireland. By the year end, the HSE will begin developing a National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics, which will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland and provide a more transparent process to referrals. This development, therefore, will be a key steppingstone to improving national genetic testing and ultimately help reduce wait time. The Strategy also outlines a plan to build a strong genetic workforce for the future. This will be achieved by not only recruiting new staff, but training and development for a future workforce, and professional development for current staff within the health service. To start implementing the Strategy in 2023 I approved €2.7 million including the appointment of key staff. These appointments included a National Director for Genetics and Genomics, a Bioinformatics Lab Director, two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors.

In addition to expanding a broad genetics and genomics service, I have also supported several key measures in rare diseases. The Government has substantially increased funding for new innovative medicines for rare diseases, investing €100 million over the last three Budgets. My Department has worked with the National Rare Disease Office to facilitate Irish entry into 18 European Reference Networks (ERNs) for rare diseases and support an EU Joint Action for the integration of ERNs into the national system. These ERNs include representation from five academic hospitals and three universities. This represents a significant achievement by the health service, to drive innovation, training and clinical research for highly specialised care. The Department has also progressed Irish entry into Horizon Europe Partnerships on Rare Disease and Personalised Medicine. Participation in ERNs and Horizon Europe Partnerships ensure greater coordination and sharing of best practices in key areas such as genetic testing with European partners. Finally, I have recently announced a plan to develop a revised National Rare Disease Plan. This Plan will be a key step in progressing an improved overall service for individuals living with a rare disease.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Health what progress has been made to date by his Department following a meeting between Department officials and an organisation (details supplied) on 15 February 2023 to discuss the inclusion of certified athletic therapists in the next round of ten professions seeking regulations, their concerns around the regulation of this profession and plans to develop a future policy framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18396/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. There are currently registers open for eleven professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining professions.

A number of representative bodies for unregulated professions have approached the Department seeking to be regulated. It is important in this context to point out the issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex.

In light of this, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area. The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website

(www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/).

Officials here in the Department of Health are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will also be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en

Officials in the Department met with representatives of the professional body for athletic therapy on 15 February 2023 to discuss their concerns around regulation. Work to develop a policy framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals is ongoing. There are no plans in place to progress regulation of individual professions until appropriate risk-assessment and evaluation tools are in place in compliance with best practice, international evidence and the Proportionality Test Directive. Furthermore, there is no indication that such regulation, should it be deemed appropriate, will be delivered in tranches of ten professions.

I hope this information is of assistance.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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135. To ask the Minister for Health if, within the model of care plan for dual diagnosis, funding streams are available for community organisations to provide dual diagnosis services such as (details supplied); how these can be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18402/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.