Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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965. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the roll out of the National Framework for Perinatal Genetics. [8060/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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 Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland is to build a strong patient and family-centred national genetics service that can be accessed equitably across the country and lifespan of patients.

Perinatal genetics is a clinical service that focuses on the evaluation diagnosis, management and treatment of anomalies before birth.

In 2023, an operational model for a National Perinatal Genomics Service was proposed. The delivery of this model will be supported by two additional funded Consultant Medical Geneticists.

In the interim, and pending the successful recruitment of the approved permanent consultant posts, the National Maternity Hospital have in place a consultant who is providing a level of perinatal genetics service.

Once recruitment has concluded, the roll out of the National Perinatal Genomics Service will be overseen by the Perinatal Genomics Steering Group established by the HSE. The Steering Group will play a key role in the alignment and coordination of activity, including establishing and reviewing key performance data/metrics.

Through Budget 2025, €2 million of new development funding has been allocated to further develop maternity services in line with the National Maternity Strategy, and to further expand this service. This will fund additional Genetics Counsellors and Administrative Support staff to increase the capacity of the new teams once established, to ensure timely national coverage. These posts will be advertised once permanent Consultant posts are in place to support the implementation of the National Framework.