Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been working in cooperation with the Department of Health, the HSE, third level institutions and health profession regulators, to increase places in third level programmes where there is an acute requirement indicated by the Department of Health workforce planning division.

The introduction of new programmes in health disciplines would require significant input from all stakeholders in the sector, and subject matter experts, particularly for a discipline as complex as genetic counselling.

It is my Department's understanding that as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland, the Department of Health and the HSE plan to develop workforce capacity in this area to enhance clinical services.

www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/strategic-programmes-office-overview/national-strategy-for-accelerating-genetic-and-genomic-medicine-in-ireland/

My Department will continue to work in lock step with the Department of Health and relevant stakeholders to support the provision of appropriately skilled health professionals to meet Health service demands.