James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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707. To ask the Minister for Health if the 34 new whole-time equivalent positions for the agencies involved in the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement system, as initially prescribed in February 2023, have now been successfully filled; whether they have commenced their engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9516/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In 2023, over €3.2 billion was spent on medicines by the State. This represents nearly €1 in every €8 of public funding being spent on health. Over the last 4 years the State has invested €128 million in new medicines, providing 194 new medicines or extended uses for medicines, including 74 medicines for cancer and 49 drugs for rare diseases.

In 2025 the Government has allocated €30 million for new medicines to be generated from efficiencies identified by the HSE.

This funding is in addition to a substantial investment in resources to enhance the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement process on foot of the Mazars Review published in 2023. Significant funding was allocated for 34 new staff across the pricing and reimbursement process. All recruitment campaigns for these posts have now concluded and posts are now being filled. These new staff will speed up the pricing and reimbursement process and allow faster access to new medicines for patients. Building this capacity will support agencies to operate to the fullest of their ability, providing timely and efficient evaluation of medicines for reimbursement. This will provide greater certainty to industry and incentivise timely applications for reimbursement.