3375. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the steps taken to integrate the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland with inherited cardiac condition services, including the Cardiac Risk in the Young Persons Centre at Tallaght University Hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61075/26]

3377. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made in establishing genomic resource associate or patient navigator posts under the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland; the number of such posts currently in place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61074/26]

3378. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made in establishing the National Centre of Excellence in Genomic Testing and Bioinformatics provided for under the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland; the services currently available through that centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61072/26]

3380. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in implementing the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland in respect of inherited cardiac conditions (details supplied); the measures taken to expand access to cardiac genetic testing, genetic counselling and specialist inherited cardiac disease services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61066/26]

3392. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to increase domestic capacity for genetic testing relating to inherited cardiac conditions under the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland (details supplied); the extent to which such testing continues to be carried out outside the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61071/26]

3417. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the current level of genetic counselling resources available to patients undergoing assessment for inherited cardiac conditions; the plans to increase investment in genetic counselling services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61012/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3375, 3377, 3378, 3380, 3392 and 3417 together.

The HSE’s National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO) was established in 2023 to implement the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland (the Strategy). The NGGOs activities include coordinating a national approach to genetics and genomics, ensuring patient and public involvement and partnerships, building the genetics and genomics workforce for the future, enhancing genetic and genomic clinical services, and strengthening infrastructures to drive advances in genetics and genomics.

As part of strategy implementation, at the end of 2024 the NGGO published the first version of the National Genomic Test Directory for Rare and Inherited Disease (the Test Directory). Version 1 of the Test Directory includes testing for Cardiology clinical indications as well as other specialties (Lipids, Metabolic, Mitochondrial, and Ophthalmology). Engagement with clinical specialists and laboratory colleagues, including those working in the area of inherited cardiac conditions was key to development of the Test Directory.

In February of this year the NGGO launched the National Genomic Processing Service (NGPS) at Beaumont Hospital. The NGPS is a centralised pre- and post-analytical service developed to manage sample receipt, registration, DNA extraction and quality control, routing to quality assessed laboratories abroad for genomic testing, and the return of associated reports. This service is provided by Beaumont Hospital on behalf of the HSE and is available to all public hospitals.

The NGPS operationalises the Test Directory and will process all genomic tests as listed in the Test Directory including those for inherited cardiac conditions.

As envisaged in the Strategy, the NGGO is also progressing proposals to develop a National Genomic Medicine Centre (NGMC), which will provide a national centre of excellence to achieve a number of key overarching aims that will make Ireland's genetics and genomic services accessible to all. The NGMC will increase national testing capacity and equity of access across all clinical specialties. In advance of the NGMC the establishment of the National Genomic Processing Service has commenced standardisation of testing and access to testing for patients and clinicians across the country.

Through the implementation of the Strategy and with support from the Department of Health there has been on-going expansion of Genetic Counselling services through the expansion of the workforce and the provision of Genomic Resource Associates. Since 2023 seven Genomic Resource Associates and an additional 7 Genetic Counsellors posts have been made available.