Questions

492. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the current status of plans to establish a multidisciplinary HSE central laboratory, as outlined in the HSE's strategy for laboratory services 2025-2029; the key milestones achieved to date; the expected timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62606/25]

494. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if a location has been selected for the proposed HSE's central laboratory, as outlined in the HSE's strategy for laboratory services 2025-2029; the criteria used in site selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62608/25]

495. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the projected staffing and skills requirements for the establishment and operation of the proposed HSE's central laboratory, under the HSE's strategy for laboratory services 2025-2029; the recruitment timeline; the action being taken to ensure the necessary workforce is in place given current shortages in laboratory science and related disciplines; and if she will…

501. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE Central Laboratory will operate under ISO 15189 accreditation standards; the accreditation pathway being pursued; whether this accreditation will be in place prior to commencing clinical operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62710/25]

502. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the expected benefits of the Central Laboratory, as outlined in the HSE Strategy for Laboratory Services 2026 to 2036, in terms of turnaround times, resilience and sustainability; whether a value-for-money assessment has been carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62711/25]

503. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the capital equipment requirements identified for the establishment of the proposed HSE Central Laboratory under the HSE Strategy for Laboratory Services 2026–2036; the estimated cost of procuring and commissioning this equipment; the funding allocated to date; the expected phasing of investment over the lifetime of the strategy; and if she will make a statement o…

710. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if her plans to build national capacity for clinical genetic testing includes the establishment of a public sector-run national genomics laboratory; if so, the anticipated timeline for this development; the level of funding required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53930/25]

712. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the Irish public hospital laboratories that are accredited to ISO 15189:2022 standard to deliver for clinical genetic tests; if she will specify the clinical genetic tests for which they hold this accreditation; and if she will outline the average turnaround times for these laboratories in delivering results back to the requesting clinician and patient. [53932/25]

713. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if she will address the current fragmented approach to ordering clinical genetic tests in Ireland; her plans to build national capacity to avoid the unnecessary practice of patient blood samples being sent abroad; the timeline for this capacity to be built; if it will be public sector centred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53933/25]

714. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if she will consider issuing national clinical genetic testing guidance to clinicians, similar to the guidance provided for medicines and medical technologies, advising which ISO 15189:2022 accredited commercial and public clinical genetic laboratories in Ireland are recommended, competent and appropriately accredited to conduct tests in-country and abroad, in the…

715. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health in view of 20,000 clinical genetic tests being sent to laboratories abroad, if she will clarify the way in which patient data is handled by each laboratory provider, in the interests of transparency and good governance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53935/25]

716. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if she agrees with the HSE’s practice of using Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) as a postal conduit for a significant proportion of the approximately 20,0000 patient blood samples requiring genetic testing, particularly given that these samples are ultimately dispatched abroad to laboratory service providers in countries such as UK, Germany and Finland; if she will…

717. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health her plans to drive cost efficiencies in view of the fact that 20,000 clinical tests are sent to laboratories in Germany, Finland, Spain, the UK, and the USA; if the HSE utilises existing capacity of Ireland-based accredited commercial clinical genetic testing laboratories for patients blood samples, including neurology, ophthalmology, and nephrology genetic tests;…