Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
335. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that Ireland has only half the staff it needs for genetic services; if he will address a matter arising in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16005/23]
View answerThe Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland, including at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) in Crumlin. One of the key ambitions of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland, launched in December 2022, is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. The Strategy outlines a plan to achieve this ambition by improving the evidence-base and infrastructure supporting genetic testing in Ireland.
A key step in building a strong genetics service is addressing our current staffing needs in this area and ensuring national genetic testing capacity is strategically delivered. These objectives will be achieved largely through the planned National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics. The HSE will begin developing this Directory by the 2023 year end. It will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland, provide a more transparent process to referrals, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of our future genetic staffing needs. This development, therefore, will be a key steppingstone to improving national genetic testing and ultimately help reduce wait time.
The National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland also outlines a plan to build a strong genetic workforce for the future. This will be achieved by not only recruiting new staff, but training and development for a future workforce, and professional development for current staff within the health service. To start implementing the Strategy in 2023, I approved €2.7 million including the appointment of key staff. These appointments included a National Director for Genetics and Genomics, a Bioinformatics Lab Director, two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors.
