Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
64. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding made available to the National Cancer Control Programme for a national strategy to accelerate genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19459/24]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland. One of the key ambitions of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland is to build a strong patient and family-centred national genetics service that can be accessed equitably across the country and lifespan of patients.
For the period 2023 and 2024 the Government allocated €4.6 million to the implementation of the Strategy which included the establishment of a National Office of Genetics and Genomics as the core body to implement the key objectives of the strategy and the allocation of frontline staff across the HSE Health Regions in areas of immediate need. Recruitment through the strategy will be ongoing during its implementation phase, and beyond.
A priority for 2024 is the development of a robust National Genetics and Genomics Workforce Plan to support the recruitment, retention, education and career development of specialised roles. As part of this, a workforce planning analysis will take place. This will include genetic counsellors and the development of the Genomic Resource Associate roles to support patients to navigate the genetic and genomic care pathway and improve coordination of care.
In line with Recommendation 6 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 and to support the implementation of Recommendation 19 of the Strategy, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) launched the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care in 2023. This Model of Care will inform the development of services for the identification and management of people with an inherited cancer predisposition. Work under the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland will enable and facilitate the implementation of the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care.
