Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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151. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of promised funding in Budget 2025 for lung fibrosis care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32933/25]

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 and ensure this funding is fully utilised for the benefit of those living with lung fibrosis.

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.