Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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726. To ask the Minister for Health to detail any plans currently under consideration, or actions taken to date, regarding the development of an all-island vaccination programme for both adults and children. [27420/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that currently, there are no plans under consideration or underway in relation to an all-island vaccination programme for both adults and children.

The immunisation programme in the Republic of Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.

NIAC revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an advisory committee, set up to advise UK health departments on immunisation.

The HSE has an EU and North South Unit which works on behalf of the HSE to promote cooperation with health providers, both north and south, to ensure better outcomes for people living in border areas and beyond, enabling better access to health and social care services. It does this through cross-border, all-island and multi-country work. The unit functions at both a strategic and operational level within the HSE. It works with other agencies and departments on a cross border, all-island, cross-jurisdictional and European wide basis.

In addition, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Northern Ireland and the CMO for the Republic of Ireland meet regularly to discuss public-health related matters which impact the island of Ireland.