Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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135. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the work of her Department to support those living with functional neurological disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24125/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to working with relevant stakeholders including the HSE and patient representatives to strengthen key services and supports for people with neurological conditions including Functional Neurological Disorders and made significant investments in Budget 2025 as well as committing to further measures in the new Programme for Government.

Functional neurologic disorder (FND) is a brain network disorder. It can present with a wide range of neurological symptoms that are sometimes like symptoms in other neurological conditions.

There is growing evidence for the efficacy of FND-specific multidisciplinary treatment services. Currently there is no dedicated clinical service for FND in Ireland. A pilot FND clinic was implemented in St James Hospital, Dublin, in 2022, led by a Consultant Neurologist. Unfortunately, this pilot was suspended due to a deficit of multidisciplinary team resources.

Budget 2025 provided €4m for the recruitment of 5 consultant neurologists and an additional 25 WTEs to support the implementation of the Neurology Model of Care and the Hub and Spoke Model for neurology services.

It is expected that this proposed Hub and Spoke model will enable a reduction in waiting lists, timely access to diagnosis and treatment and thus, improve quality of life and prognosis for people with neurological symptoms, including FND.

I’m pleased to advise that of the 30 WTEs announced for neurology services 3 of these will be dedicated to FND services at St. James Hospital. These posts will include a senior physiotherapist, senior occupational therapists and a neuropsychologist.

This 2025 new service development [NSD 2025-45] is to progress the implementation of the HSE Model of Care for Neurology. The focus of the neurology initiative and its FND Service sub-initiative Dare aimed at achieving the following: To improve access to appropriate neurology services; Improve safety and quality in the delivery of patient centred neurological care; and improve value for both patient and health services across neurology services.

The National Clinical Programme for Neurology has also proposed the development of a Neurological Symptomology modernised care pathway (incorporating FND).

More broadly, the National Clinical Programme for Neurology is actively working on a Hub and Spoke model to guide equitable neurology services around the country to align with the new health regions and to tackle the gaps in neurology services nationally. This will cater for people with all neurological conditions including FND, and will deliver on the Sláintecare principle of delivering care closer to the patients home. This model will include one model 4 hospital ‘Hub’ per Health Region, catering for the most complex neurological care. These sites will support model 3 hospital ‘Spoke’ sites who will provide services for people with less complex needs where efficient access to Hubs as required.

Many hospitals already have well developed neurology services, but funding received in Budget 2025 will enable delivery of Phase 1 of the Hub and Spoke model with new services to be developed at: Letterkenny University Hospital, Wexford General Hospital, Mayo University Hospital, Midlands Hospital, Portlaoise, and Kerry General Hospital .

I am committed to making further progress developing services for those with Functional Neurological Disorders and I will continue to work with the HSE to ensure improvements in Neurology services as a whole.