2667. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the application submitted on behalf of a person (details supplied) for stem cell therapy was refused under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (Directive 2011/24/EU); if the Minister will clarify whether stem cell therapy is currently considered a treatment covered under the cross-border directive scheme; the specific eligibility criteria and clinical justification applied by the HSE when determining applications for reimbursement under the Directive; the rationale and grounds on which the application was refused; and if there are any plans to review the scope of treatments eligible for reimbursement under the cross-border Directive scheme, particularly innovative or emerging therapies such as stem cell therapy. [41300/25]

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.