Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Health when a national lung fibrosis clinical programme will be available to deliver structured, standardised and equitable care to people living with lung fibrosis in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32921/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Lung Fibrosis is primarily a matter for the HSE to consider in the course of its service planning activities. The HSE have completed recruitment of an Interstitial Lung Disease Clinical Advisor, with the successful candidate starting on 19th June 2025.

This role is essential to establishing the appropriate governance and leadership to drive work in this area and develop a wider understanding of the needs of those living with Lung Fibrosis which will further inform the develop of necessary and appropriate services.

The HSE and the Department of Health have engaged with the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association on key priorities, and to better understand the needs of those living with Lung fibrosis. Further engagement will take place in the coming weeks and months as work in this area is progressed.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Minister for Health the plans for a national registry of lung fibrosis patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32922/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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€500k funding was allocated for pulmonary fibrosis in budget 2025 and is available to the HSE.

The HSE have completed recruitment of an Interstitial Lung Disease Clinical Advisor, a role crucial to progressing work in this area. The successful candidate is due to start in the role on 19th June 2025, establishing the appropriate governance and leadership to drive work in this area. This will allow work on the planning and development of services for lung fibrosis to start in earnest, including consideration of a national registry for Lung Fibrosis. However, this will require further scoping and engagement.

The HSE and the Department of Health have engaged with the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association on key priorities, and examined how this funding could be spent. Further engagement will take place in the coming weeks and months as work in this area begins to progress.