Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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667. To ask the Minister for Health if he will urgently review the need for the appointment of six genomic resource associates at the department of clinical genetics at Crumlin Hospital to reduce the current unacceptable two-year waiting list with regard to rare diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32655/23]

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 2023, the Government allocated €2.7 million to the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland. This allocation included the establishment of a National Office of Genetics and Genomics and the appointment of front-line staff. As Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin is one of the current hospitals providing a genetic testing service, Crumlin was selected for allocation of some these initial posts.

This year, the following genetics/genomics posts have been allocated to CHI Crumlin:

• 2 genomic research associates
• 1 genetic counsellor

• 1 genetic counsellor to the following locations:
  • RHA A - Beaumont hospital
  • RHA F – Galway University Hospital
  • RHA B & RHA C - St. James Hospital / St. Vincent’s University Hospital
• 1 genetic consultant to Galway University Hospital