Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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594. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of the health budget and respective amounts allocated to expanding/enhancing immunisation programmes in 2024 and 2025; the plans to increase this figure in Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49735/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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595. To ask the Minister for Health if a decision was made by her Department or the HSE to halt expansion and/or enhancement of immunisation programmes in 2024 and 2025; the reasons for such a decision; the plans to expand or enhance immunisation programmes in 2026; if a related budgetary increase is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49736/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 595 together.

The National Immunisation Programme in 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, international best practice in relation to immunisation as well as evidence based analysis and expert medical advice.

The NIAC makes recommendations on immunisation matters to the Department of Health. These recommendations are first considered by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) following which the CMO will make a recommendation to the Minister. After deliberation, the Minister will make a determination which will take the form of a policy decision.

It should be noted that in advance of any change in policy, the Minister can request that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carry out an evaluation of the impacts of a potential policy change. HIQA has a statutory remit, under the Health Act 2007, to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, providing advice to the Minister for Health on budget impact, organisational and social aspects and ethical and legal issues.

These evaluations take the form of Health Technology Assessments (HTAs). A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner. The use of the HTA facility assists decision makers in assessing the merits and potential shortcomings of a new health technology, policy or service based on accurate and reliable evidence.

Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.

For 2025, the Minister made a decision to expand the RSV infant immunisation programme to also include babies who are 6 months old or younger at the start of the RSV season as well as infants who are born during the RSV season. In addition, funding was provided for the addition of the Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine programme.

Funding for specific programmes within the national immunisation programme will be considered as part of the 2026 Budget and Estimates process. Any additional Investment in 2026 will be subject to this process which is currently ongoing.