Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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2068. To ask the Minister for Health if she is concerned that Ireland may have the lowest number per capita of consultant cardiologists in Europe; if her Department or the HSE has a strategy to deal with this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19121/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The National Review of Adult Specialist Cardiac Services (NRCS) was published on 8th April and I have accepted its recommendations in full. The Review provides a detailed, evidence-driven analysis of cardiac services across the Country. A wide range of stakeholders - clinical, patient and public - were consulted as part of this review. The Review provides 23 recommendations some of which address future cardiology workforce planning in the approach to cardiac services provision and health policy over the coming 10 – 15 years.

The NRCS report provides valuable data and a roadmap for a once in a generation reform of cardiac services, and we are ambitious to progress this important work. I have written to the HSE to begin developing an implementation plan by June 2025. Publication of the Review, and the development of the implementation plan will be key facilitators of our new national cardiovascular strategy as promised in the Programme for Government.

It is important to note that comparisons of Cardiology Consultants across the EU are difficult to determine given the mixed commitments of Cardiology Consultants in Ireland across General Internal Medicine and Cardiology.

A recently published medical workforce report from HSE National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) on the Dual Training Specialties of Medicine, Medical Workforce 2024-2038, notes that the number of Consultant Cardiologists has been increasing at an average rate of 15% per annum between 2019 and 2024. During this period, the Cardiology training programme has also been growing to provide the specialist training pipeline for these posts, with a 27% increase in trainees enrolled on the training programme between 2019 and 2024.

The report shows 164 full-time equivalent Consultant Cardiologists. This includes consultants in Cardiology posts, Consultants in General Physician posts with a medical council speciality of Cardiology and those working in the private sector. The report makes recommendations around the required intake into the training programme over the next five years.

The NDTP have been working with the Training Programme to ensure the training pipeline is sufficient to meet the future consultant demand for the speciality. Intake figures for the Cardiology Training Programme for July 2025 are not yet finalised; however, the Training Programme have indicated that they are on track to meet the required higher training intake as recommended within the dual medicine speciality report.