Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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97. To ask the Minister for Health if she intends to expand eligibility for funding for diabetes glucose monitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64219/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for her question on this matter.

Making healthcare more accessible and affordable to patients, including those with diabetes, is a core priority for the Government and for me as Minister.

Budget 2026 allocated €217 million in funding for medicines, including €30m allocated to new medicines. This builds on the €158 million available for new drugs between 2021 and 2025.

In 2023, HSE expenditure on glucose monitoring was approximately €81 million, mainly under the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme, which spent €288.82 million on diabetes care.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) using test strips and meters is reimbursed under the HSE, with quantities based on treatment type and testing frequency.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, comprising sensors and transmitters, are an alternative to SMBG.

CGM use and costs have risen sharply from 6,000 monthly recipients in 2021 to 16,900 in 2023, with annual CGM sensor costs reaching €55.7 million.

Following a HIQA Health Technology Assessment (HTA) published in September 2023, the HSE introduced an online reimbursement system for CGM sensors for all patients with type 1 diabetes from December 2023. By December 2024, 19,861 patients were receiving CGM, adding €9.7 million in costs. Applications for reimbursement can be submitted for patients and are assessed individually by the HSE.

The HSE-Medicines Management Programme and the National Clinical Programme for Diabetes, with the support of the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer, has submitted a joint proposal requesting HIQA to consider a HTA of CGM for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes in their 2026 workplan. The outcome of a HTA could support a decision by the HSE under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act, 2013 regarding long-term funding and the availability of this technology for patients.