Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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2904. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on implementation of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services; if she will commit to implementing all recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42589/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The National Review of Adult Cardiac Services (NRCS) provides the foundations to build on existing National Cardiovascular Policy, and the development of a new and more ambitious plan to enhance patient care and timely access to cardiac care across all regions.

The Programme for Government commits to “Building on the existing National Cardiovascular Policy, we will develop a new and more ambitious plan enhancing patient care and timely access across all regions.” And this ambition is supported by the Review which was established to assess the optimal configuration of adult specialist cardiac services in Ireland using an evidence-based approach.

The NRCS makes 23 recommendations to identify benefits for patients' and population health, and will present a significant reform programme to optimise adult cardiac care across Ireland over the next 10-15 years. I have accepted these recommendations and work has begun with the HSE on the development of an implementation plan, which I expect to receive shortly. This is a complex, multiyear reform programme that will ensure a comprehensive and deliverable approach in achieving outcomes.

Cardiovascular health is a significant central pillar of health funding announced recently as part of Budget 2025, which includes over €9 million in full-year costs to support important cardiovascular health initiatives.