DEBRA Ireland, an advocacy group for epidermolysis bullosa, EB, or butterfly skin, made its pre-budget submission in Buswells Hotel last week on behalf of the families of those who are living with EB. Emma Fogarty and Liz Collins made a powerful presentation on the difficulties and challenges that they face day in and day out. They have three asks in respect of the budget. The first is to create a ring-fenced fund for home nursing care for children and adults with EB. The second is to fund an EB outreach nurse. The third is to fund the clinical psychologist for those living EB. Will the Minister give consideration to their very modest request in the context of September’s budget?

I have not yet seen that particular pre-budget submission. The way the process works is that over the coming weeks I will sit down with my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, as part of the Estimates process to agree on a settlement for health for 2023. Then, the more micro-decisions relating to the allocation of funds of all the different strands of healthcare will be made by the Minister, in line with the programme for Government priorities and with Government policy. I suggest that Deputy Andrews make the case directly to the Minister for Health.