Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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1407. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care in Ireland; the funding that has been provided for this initiative and the plans for future funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29534/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Hereditary Cancer Steering Group oversees the implementation of the NCCP Hereditary Cancer Model of Care.

Working groups have been developing networked services, including a pathway to a national multi-disciplinary team; agreeing template job descriptions for new roles and seeking funding via the service planning process; working to operationalise mainstreamed genetic testing; developing e-learning to support health care professionals; and developing patient information material.

Work is progressing to implement mainstreamed genetic testing, as per the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care, in a number of cancer centres by Q3 this year. This will make pre-test counselling and genetic testing available through the treating oncology team, for certain patients with a diagnosis of cancer, including breast cancer. This work is being supported through the development of the regional workforce, agreement of national testing criteria, consent form and education programmes.

Posts in the National Service Plan 2025 to support the implementation of the Model of Care include two genetic counsellors, three service support staff (two data manager/ admin staff and one national MDT coordinator), four advance nurse practitioner posts and two consultant medical oncologists with a special interest in genetics.

The NCCP are due to publish an implementation report by the end of this year. Non pay costs are still being calculated at this stage and funding figures will be available once finalised.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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1408. To ask the Minister for Health if genetic testing is yet available to close relatives of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in order to detect genetic mutations and aid in early diagnosis and prevention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29535/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Patients with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer who meet the appropriate clinical criteria can be offered genetic testing through the specialist cancer genetics services, to search for an inherited predisposition to cancer.

Where an inherited predisposition is identified in a person with cancer, this can then be tested for in close blood relatives. All such genetic testing should be preceded by appropriate pre-test counselling.