Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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434. To ask the Minister for Health if the posts of both national director for genetics and genomics and the bioinformatics lab director have been filled for the Genetic Testing Service at CHI Crumlin. [20497/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and the Department of Health are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland, including at CHI Crumlin. In 2023, I allocated €2.7 million to implement the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland, including the establishment of a National Office of Genetics and Genomics and the recruitment of key staff within the National Office and the wider genomics service.

A priority for 2023 is to ensure that key frontline staff and National Office roles are recruited. Appointment of staff to the National Office for Genetics and Genomics is underway. To accelerate the establishment of this office, interim appointments will be made for the senior positions in the first instance. The Interim National Director has now been appointed and commenced in post. The interview process for the Interim National Bio-Informatics Director has commenced.