HSE rare disease liaison officer
Pádraig O'Sullivan followed up on a rare disease liaison officer and referenced a Department reply about wider rare disease structures. The Taoiseach promised a proper answer later, suggested recruitment restrictions might be relevant, and said approved posts and extra 2024 staff could still proceed.
Last week, I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the appointment of a HSE rare disease liaison officer. To be fair, he said he would come back to me on the matter. It has only been a week since then and I do not expect a response from him at the moment. I submitted a question to the Department of Health at approximately the same time, however, and received a response this morning. The response referred to the establishment of a rare disease office and policy unit, the announcement of a new rare disease plan, the opening of a new patient advocacy service and the establishment of a new rare disease information hotline. None of that pertains to the question I asked, however, so I am asking the Taoiseach, in the context of responding to my question in the coming days or week, if he will, please, try to source an answer in respect of the appointment of a rare disease liaison officer.
Comment on this
I will definitely follow up on that and revert to the Deputy with a proper answer as soon as I get one. Some people will probably speculate that it is linked to the recruitment restrictions in the HSE at the moment. I do not know whether that is or is not the case. Approved posts can still go ahead. Next year, the HSE is authorised to take on an additional 2,000 staff. I am sure it can be done but I will revert to the Deputy when I have a proper reply.