Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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469. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to expand opportunities for stroke survivors to participate in trials or innovative treatments. [52919/25]

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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470. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to establishing a national programme for stem cell transplant trials for stroke recovery in partnership with the HSE and RCSI [52920/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 470 together.

The HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 aims to modernise and reform stroke services in line with Sláintecare policy and address the challenges facing Ireland from population ageing and the predicted increase in the total number of strokes right across Europe, including Ireland. The strategy provides a blueprint for required investment in stroke services over the five-year period from 2022-2027.

This government is fully committed to supporting improvements and advances in stroke services and will build on the €13.5m in funding allocated to the HSE National Stroke Strategy since its publication in 2022.

Clinical trials are an established component within the Education and Research Pillar of the HSE's National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027. My department has supported the development of clinical trials among stroke survivors, providing funding via the HRB to the Stroke Clinical Trials Network Ireland (SCTNI), which was co-funded by the Irish Heart Foundation. The SCTNI was also a key leader in establishment of the European Stroke Organisation Trials Alliance (ESOTA), expanding our reach internationally and helping grow patient access to new trials. In terms of a decision to establish a national programme for stem cell transplant trials for stroke recovery, the potential for a dedicated national structure is a continuous discussion among key partners.

The expert clinicians and researchers are actively considering the evidence-base and scale of work being undertaken, as well as the country's established expertise and suitability. The focus is on how best to advance this area of emerging science by ensuring any future initiative aligns with existing national mechanisms for clinical trials and the goal of harmonising trial technologies and methodologies across relevant disciplines.

With specific regard to participation of stroke survivors, the HRB Stroke Clinical Trials Network Ireland continues to support and undertake clinical trials for stroke survivors. However, in order to expand opportunities for stroke survivors to participate in clinical trials and access innovative treatments, it is necessary to address challenges that have limited the start-up of clinical trials generally in Ireland. The expert National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG) has recently completed its 12-month period of discussions and analyses and produced a set of Final Recommendations which were approved by Government at the end of July.

It is my intention to progress all of the NCTOG's recommendations, which are highly ambitious and strategic in terms of transforming the clinical trials sector in Ireland. The recommendations cover key priority areas which will create sector-wide strengthening of the national framework and mechanisms for supporting clinical trials. This will, in turn, increase the numbers of clinical trials taking place in Ireland and improve patients' access to innovative treatments, including stroke patients and enhance our global prominence as a host for high-quality clinical trials.

The first priority area of the NCTOG Final Recommendations relates to establishment of a Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC), which will oversee the establishment and setup of a National Clinical Trials Body. These new governance structures will provide a focal point for organisations and stakeholders wishing to conduct clinical trials in Ireland, while also supporting patients to access information and links to participate in clinical trials. Naturally, these initiatives will require concerted effort and coordination between government, academia, industry, and the public, and as such will be the subject of intensive work over the coming months and years. I look forward to updating Government on the progress of the Council as we seek to implement the NCTOG recommendations in full.