Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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498. To ask the Minister for Health the actions her Department is undertaking to implement the recommendations of the National Review of Adult Specialist Cardiac Services report published in April 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66844/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The National Review of Adult Specialist Cardiac Services (NRCS) was published on 8th April. The NRCS provides a detailed, evidence-driven analysis of cardiac services across the Country. An implementation plan is currently being developed for the recommendations of the Review.

The Review consulted with a wide range of stakeholders; collected and analysed data to provide recommendations around cardiovascular health policy, patient-centred care integrated with our Sláintecare vision, capital investment to support non-invasive diagnostics and imaging as well as structural reform to develop regional cardiac networks, national comprehensive cardiac centres and leadership and governance.

Recent trends in the demand for cardiac services reflect changes in population health. Significantly, the demand for emergency cardiac interventions is declining, and the need for non-acute services (e.g., those with chronic cardiac disease and/or CVD risk factors) is increasing.

The 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 Review makes 23 recommendations. The Minister has accepted these, and an implementation plan is in development. An immediate action is the establishment a national governance structure.

The budget commits €4 million in full-year costs to reform how we deliver cardiac services. This has enabled initial reform in cardiac services and will support the development of a new cardiovascular strategy in the longer term.