Frankie Feighan
Sligo-Leitrim · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Among patients reviewed after 12 months of treatment, there was an 88% reduction in episodes of cellulitis, an 80% reduction in hospitalisations associated with cellulitis, significant reductions in GP and public health nurse visits, and reduced demand on both acute and community services.”
“This will deliver an additional 263 positions to the service and will particularly help to support capacity building in our front-line emergency services.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important matter in the House. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I am aware of the issues raised by the Senator. He will appreciate that neither I nor the HSE can comment on any individual case.”
“I can confirm to the Seanad that we are currently progressing development of a third HEMS to serve the west and north west regions, including the mid-west, and planning for the new HEMS is well advanced.”
“In my opening statement, I focused mainly on aeromedical services in Ireland, particularly the helicopter emergency medical resourcing, HEMS, to provide access to emergency patient care for the people of the mid-west region, including west Clare.”
“On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I thank Senator Conway for the opportunity to update the House on the delivery of aeromedical services for the people of west Clare and the surrounding area.”
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“It is also the responsibility of all Departments to ensure all staff in the Department and relevant sectors and agencies under their remit are aware of and comply with their obligations under this guidance and relevant legislation. Again, above all, the safety and welfare of children must remain the overriding consideration, as the Senator said, in all circumstances. The Government expects full adherence to statutory child safeguarding obligations that exist to protect vulnerable young children. These are serious questions and I am happy to assist.”
“Again, I thank the Senator for his comments. He raised some serious and important questions, which he wants answers to. While the Department of Children, Disability and Equality holds overall responsibility for the legislative and policy framework under which child protection and welfare services are delivered, monitored, inspected and measured, it is the responsibility of all Departments to ensure children and young people are kept safe while accessing services provided or funded by each Department. The Senator said this is in the constituency I represent. If he wishes, he can pass the files to me and I will follow it up. This is of a serious nature.”
“Despite these safeguards, unfortunately, serious cases of this nature can arise, albeit infrequently, within the health service or elsewhere in society. I, therefore, urge all those who require care now or in the future to seek help without delay, or to continue to engage with services if they are already in the system. Again, I stress that the existing wide range of HSE youth mental health services provides vital care supports to many vulnerable young people and their families each year and make a real difference to achieving recovery.”
“The purpose of this is for communication; consultation when a staff member is unsure about their concern, particularly staff who are not mandated persons; and for the line manager to ensure that the child protection and welfare reporting procedure is followed correctly. The HSE advises it is not intended to be a screening of a concern or a barrier to reporting. The HSE policy clearly states that when there is disagreement about the threshold of concern, either party can seek further consultation with Tusla and that if people remain concerned, they should report this concern to Tusla and-or An Garda Síochána. The policy also states that a mandated person cannot delegate their responsibility to report.”
“All staff are regularly made aware of the policy and the obligations on mandated staff to report their concerns to Tusla and-or An Garda Síochána, where necessary. The HSE indicates that, after the relevant therapists wrote to the CEO of the HSE in October 2024 on this matter, the CEO wrote to the health region stating there should be no line management screening of mandated reporting by individual professions and suggested the therapists be advised immediately that they are free to contact Tusla directly. The relevant staff were advised of this. One aspect of the existing HSE child protection and welfare policy indicates that staff should inform their line manager when a concern arises and-or when a concern is reported to Tusla.”
“Once this review is completed, the HSE will take any required actions to ensure that the findings and recommendations are implemented in full. Under the Children First Act 2015, there are specific legal obligations for certain staff known as “mandated persons” to report certain information relating to harm of a child to Tusla. This is known as mandatory reporting. The Children First Act 2015 is supported by the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children of 2017, and the HSE child protection and welfare policy, which sets out the roles, responsibilities and procedures assigned to ensure the effective management of child protection and welfare concerns in the HSE. The HSE is very clear about the obligations of mandated persons.”
“These have been subject to an agreed review process in line with the terms of reference. The independent company has completed the first and second review of documentation provided by the HSE within the agreed timeframe. Recently, the company sought further records from the HSE, which is in the process of compiling them. The HSE advises that it has engaged with staff directly in relation to this process, in line with the incident management framework. I understand that while the HSE has been actively working on this issue from the outset, the formal review process took longer than anticipated to commence owing to its complexity. While the HSE regrets the delay to date, it must allow the company to complete its review within the parameters of the terms of reference.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important matter in the House. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I am aware of the issues raised by the Senator. He will appreciate that neither I nor the HSE can comment on any individual case. The HSE, as a matter of routine, rigorously investigates any allegations of the nature made in this case and notifies all appropriate agencies and individuals. I understand that HSE West and North-West is progressing an independent external review under the HSE incident management framework of 2020 relating to a counselling service in the north west. This review was initiated following concerns raised in relation to children first mandatory reporting. The company has examined a number of records from the counselling service.”
“Finally, a new ambulance base in Rossbrien is expected to be completed at the end of this year, with an investment that is part of an overall €15.8 million for 2026. Again, this is good news and a lot of great work is being done. More importantly, lives are being saved. I thank the ambulance service and everyone involved in the great work it does. I see it from my door in Sligo, which is near Sligo Airport from where the Coast Guard helicopters also work.”
“In my opening statement, I focused mainly on aeromedical services in Ireland, particularly the helicopter emergency medical resourcing, HEMS, to provide access to emergency patient care for the people of the mid-west region, including west Clare. In the context of the mid-west region, I am informed that NAS plans to add three additional emergency ambulances to the mid-west region to provide for improved patient access to emergency care. These resources will be located in Ennistymon, Kilrush and Nenagh. Furthermore, an additional intermediate care vehicle and a community paramedic will be deployed to the region for additional, lower acuity patient care, with both services to be based in Ennis. The NAS is also building further capacity in its national operations centre for increased capacity.”
“I am blown away by the amount of phone calls I have been getting, certainly with the air ambulance in Athlone in the past 15 years, from people at first hand whose lives have been saved. Of course, we need to do more. I thank the Senator again for bringing this very important issue to the floor of the Seanad.”
“This will deliver an additional 263 positions to the service and will particularly help to support capacity building in our front-line emergency services. This investment will further develop the NAS intermediate care services and alternative care pathways to ensure growing numbers of patients receive treatment at the right clinical level, and that the NAS emergency response resources are preserved for appropriate high acuity work. Finally, I offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff of the NAS and all our ambulance services for their commitment and dedication to patient care, both in County Clare and across the country. This is something that has only happened in the past 15 years, where we have advanced paramedics, air ambulances and Coast Guard cover. It provides that timely 60-minute cover that is saving lives.”
“I can confirm to the Seanad that we are currently progressing development of a third HEMS to serve the west and north west regions, including the mid-west, and planning for the new HEMS is well advanced. The aviation provider has already commenced the required test flight programme, and I am informed the service is expected to become fully operational in September. The introduction of a third HEMS service represents a significant enhancement of access to national specialist pre-hospital emergency care particularly for, as the Senator outlined, rural and coastal communities such as west Clare. More generally, the Government continues to prioritise increased investment in our National Ambulance Service. This year’s allocation of over €291.3 million for the NAS includes €20 million for new service developments.”
“This is something I am familiar with as it was set up after the downgrading of the Roscommon accident and emergency services. It has saved hundreds of lives, and I am very proud of that. There is also a dedicated HEMS service operating out of Rathcoole in north Cork. In addition, the Irish Coast Guard also provides an aeromedical service on an available basis, through its search and rescue helicopter network, and covers the mid-west region from its base in Shannon. I understand there is also one in Sligo, which also assists with the Air Corps. All aeromedical assets are tasked through the NAS emergency operations centre as part of the national emergency response network.”
“On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I thank Senator Conway for the opportunity to update the House on the delivery of aeromedical services for the people of west Clare and the surrounding area. Ireland's helicopter emergency medical resources are consultant-led services and are deployed nationally on a basis of clinical need, enabling aeromedical support to be provided across all regions, including County Clare and the wider mid-west. As the Senator will be aware, the HSE currently supplies two dedicated HEMS, operated by the National Ambulance Service, NAS. These are the emergency aeromedical services operated in partnership with the Irish Air Corps, which operates out of Custume Barracks, Athlone, and is staffed by the Air Corps crews and NAS specialist paramedics.”
“The model of care envisages a strong community focus, ensuring that people can access specialist services close to home while maintaining links with acute hospital services, where necessary. While significant progress has been made, I acknowledge that further development is required. The HSE remains committed to advancing the implementation of the model of care and ensuring that people living with lymphoedema can access timely, high-quality and equitable services right across the country. The Senator has raised a few questions. I will bring them back to the Minister.”
“The national lymphoedema and lipoedema education group continues to support professional development. It has produced a range of patient information resources, including information booklets and digital supports, that help patients like the Senator understand the condition and manage symptoms effectively. With regard to compression garments, I emphasise that the HSE provides compression garments, including compression sleeves, for eligible patients where a clinical assessment identifies a need. Provision is based on evidence-based practice. Recognised clinical standards ensure that patients receive the most appropriate supports for their condition. I am aware of the importance of community-based care.”
“These guidelines aim to reduce variation in practice, improve patient outcomes and experience of care, and support the optimal use of healthcare resources. Investment has been made in workforce development and education. National funding has supported specialist lymphoedema training since 2022 and 74 healthcare professionals have now completed specialist education in lymphoedema management. The national lymphoedema and lipoedema education group continues to support professional development and has produced a range of patient information resources, including information booklets and digital supports, that help patients understand their condition and manage symptoms effectively.”
“Among patients reviewed after 12 months of treatment, there was an 88% reduction in episodes of cellulitis, an 80% reduction in hospitalisations associated with cellulitis, significant reductions in GP and public health nurse visits, and reduced demand on both acute and community services. Particularly noteworthy is the impact of the early detection services on cancer patients. Current data indicates that these programmes have reduced the incidence of lymphoedema in breast cancer patients from approximately 25% to 1.7%, underlining the value of early intervention and surveillance. In conjunction with the early detection services, the national cancer control programme has developed several breast cancer national clinical guidelines in consultation with a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders, including patient representatives.”
“This has resulted in the establishment of three specialist lymphoedema clinics in the community, located in Clare, Meath and Donegal, together with three early detection services in acute cancer centres at the Mater hospital, St. James’s Hospital and University Hospital Limerick. These services are continuing to receive funding in 2026. Further roll-out of this proof of concept is a matter for the HSE’s service plan Estimates process. The evidence emerging from the proof-of-concept clinics is encouraging. The specialist lymphoedema clinics have demonstrated improvements in quality of life, improved access to care and high levels of patient satisfaction.”
“I fully recognise the challenges that patients and their families face, and the importance of ensuring that services are delivered as close to home as possible. I thank Senator Costello for outlining her experience and the challenges she has faced. We are committed to improving care and supports for people living with lymphoedema. A key foundation for this work is the HSE lymphoedema and lipoedema model of care, which was approved in 2019. The model sets out a patient-centred and evidence-based approach for prevention, early detection, treatment, education and support. Since the model of care was endorsed, the HSE has progressed implementation through a proof-of-concept approach.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I thank her for providing me with an opportunity to highlight the supports available for people living with lymphoedema and the work under way to improve services across the country. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Lymphoedema is a chronic and progressive condition that can have a significant impact on a person’s health, mobility, independence and quality of life. In Ireland, it is estimated that over 20,000 patients are affected by both primary and secondary lymphoedema. For many people, including those who develop lymphoedema following cancer treatment, managing the condition requires ongoing access to specialist assessment, treatment, education and support.”
“I take the Deputy’s valid concerns on board. While my Department provides extensive guidance, oversight and procurement supports, individual PSBs ultimately retain responsibility for determining the suitability of their requirements, governance arrangements, project delivery approaches and the successful implementation of ICT projects under their remit. There is support for the Public Appointments Service and for digital and ICT initiatives of significant scale, risk or strategic importance, including all projects with an estimated lifetime cost exceeding €5 million. The OGCIO operates a formal peer review process, which assesses governance, delivery approach, cost risks and alignment with wider public service strategies, and provides an independent challenge to ensure robust decision-making and, more importantly, value for money.”
“My Department provides broad governance, oversight and strategic supports for digital and ICT initiatives. The arrangements for the oversight of digital and ICT-related initiatives in the civil and public service require PSBs to obtain approval from my Department before commencing new digital or ICT initiatives, publishing procurement documentation or entering into commitments involving expenditure. These arrangements promote early engagement, support whole-of-government co-ordination and help to avoid duplication of investment. My Department also delivers a range of shared digital and ICT services for use across government, including government networks, the national low latency platform, a managed desktop and a government private cloud. There is a lot of good work going on. I thank the Deputy for her questions.”
“A number of public sector bodies undertaking procurement of ICT systems have also been provided by my Department with guidance, documentation and advice at key stages of the procurement life cycle.”
“In addition to these general guidelines, my Department has also developed ICT-specific supports, including comprehensive guidance on the procurement of cloud services and recent guidance on measures that PSBs may take to mitigate potential cost and supply impacts arising from the global, AI-driven shortage of critical memory and storage IT components. PSBs can access a broad range of ICT expertise through my Department’s central procurement solutions, including ICT research and advisory services, ICT consultancy services, procurement consultancy services and ICT professional services. PSBs can also access central procurement solutions for common ICT products and services, ranging from communications and networking solutions to data centre equipment, personal computers and a number of software licensing renewal arrangements.”
“My Department has responsibility for public procurement policy development, guidance, systems and advisory services, as well as the establishment of central buying solutions that serve the needs of public service bodies, PSBs. My Department provides a wide range of supports to assist public service bodies in the procurement of information and communications technology systems and services, both through practical procurement assistance and the provision of guidance and central procurement solutions. The public procurement guidelines for goods and services, published by my Department, are designed to promote best practice and consistency in the application of public procurement rules in relation to the purchase of goods, services and works, including ICT goods and services.”
“A pillar of that strategy will focus on procuring for the future and we want to embed social and environmental innovation, as well as local social resilience, into the current public procurement strategy.”
“I am very mindful of how time-poor small businesses are. We want to put them at the centre of the strategy from its inception. The idea for the strategy derived from a programme for Government commitment to review the public procurement process and make it much more transparent. We are trying to support SMEs in identifying and pursuing public procurement opportunities. In most businesses - and I was part of a business myself - you would work all hours of the day and would you want to step in a back office and go through these applications? We also are trying to work with mentors who will help small businesses with their applications. The strategy is trying to redefine value for money but include longer-term social value for Irish taxpayers.”
“This will help SMEs, but, more importantly, it will also help small family businesses and local communities. The strategy will take into consideration many of the matters she mentioned.”
“I share the Deputy's view. The strategy has not been delayed. As I stated previously, this will be Ireland's first overarching strategy for public procurement. It will set the direction of travel to 2030 to support delivering the Government's commitments. Given the scale and ambition of the strategy, it is important that it is informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, a robust evidence base and careful consideration of implementation arrangements. It is important to note that significant work has already been undertaken in this regard. We are engaging closely with my officials to finalise the strategy and to ensure that the conditions for its successful implementation are in the place. The Deputy referred to SMEs and local communities. She is absolutely right.”
“Taken together, the extensive consultation process, the preparatory work undertaken to date and the initiatives already under way will provide a strong foundation for the effective implementation of the strategy across the public sector. I expect to bring the strategy to Government in the coming weeks.”
“A number of initiatives aligned with the strategy's vision, values and objectives are already being progressed across the public procurement system, including measures to support sustainable procurement, SME participation, transparency and simplification. In parallel, significant preparatory work has been undertaken to establish the governance, capability and stakeholder engagement arrangements necessary to support its successful implementation across the public sector. Among the recent initiatives introduced are a new series of webinars to deliver procurement essentials to SMEs, representation from the social enterprise sector joining the SME advisory group and journey-mapping exercises with public buyers and suppliers to identify opportunities for simplification and practical co-design solutions.”
“The forthcoming national public procurement strategy will set the strategic direction for public procurement in Ireland for the next five years. The strategy will for the first time establish a shared vision, values and objectives for the public procurement system, providing a common framework for the procurement of goods, services and works across the public sector. Given the scale and ambition of the strategy, it was important that sufficient time was taken to ensure that its development and implementation are informed by stakeholder engagement, evidence-based policymaking and practical delivery considerations. We have been engaging with our officials to finalise the strategy and ensure that the necessary preparatory work is undertaken and that the foundations are laid for its successful implementation.”
“The current framework expires in September 2027. Until then, public service bodies can continue to procure renewals of their Microsoft licences in line with the rules governing the existing framework agreement. The OGP's objective is to ensure that it can aggregate the State's expenditure, delivering value for money in all the expenditure categories that it manages. The OGP also remains committed to ensuring that public service bodies have access to a compliant and effective procurement mechanism for Microsoft solution renewals and associated licensing services. All the feedback received has been assessed by the OGP and the intention is to publish a new tender as early as is feasible.”
“Again, interested parties are entitled to query any element of the procurement competition and such queries can arise through a number of channels, including clarification requests, direct correspondence or through the tender advisory service. The OGP considers each case on its own merits and decides on a course of action. In relation to this tender, matters of concern were raised by an interested party. Having carefully considered those matters, the OGP determined it was prudent to cancel the competition and notify the market accordingly.”
“We are reviewing the operation of the existing framework and obtaining relevant input from subject matter experts across the public service to improve the scope, specification and features. We are obtaining relevant market-specific commercial advice from IT market analysts and industry experts, and also obtaining legal advice from the CSSO. As part of the OGP’s governance process, we are conducting a review of the relevant risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies before final approval to publish. The framework is only for the renewal of Microsoft licences. The prerequisite is that public service bodies using the framework must have already procured a Microsoft agreement appropriate to the licences being renewed.”
“In respect of preparing the tender for the framework for the renewal of Microsoft licences, solutions and associated services, the OGP adhered to its standard, detailed and disciplined approach over an eight-month period, including engaging with the market through a structured, extensive and comprehensive pre-market consultation process, which seeks the market’s view with defining the scope, structure and content of the tender.”
“The OGP is supported in its work by key public sector bodies, subject matter experts and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, CSSO. In each case, the relevant risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies are carefully considered. All framework agreements commence with a pre-market engagement, which informs the market of the OGP’s intentions as well as informing the OGP of the market’s capabilities and developments. Following publication of the tender, the OGP typically receives feedback from interested parties relating to the design of the competition. Such feedback is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, including assessing the potential impact to the tender.”
“The Office of Government Procurement, a division of my Department, acts as a central purchasing body, aggregating the State's purchasing power and establishing framework agreements for a range of commodities, including ICT goods and services. The establishment of a national-level framework is a significant undertaking. OGP framework agreements are established based on public sector bodies' needs and market capabilities and are a key instrument in delivering value for money, promoting SME access to Government contracts as well as incorporating horizontal policy considerations. Since its establishment in 2014, the OGP has gained significant experience in establishing national-level framework agreements. The OGP takes a diligent and disciplined approach to each and every framework, with frameworks taking up to 12 months to put in place.”
“These are all examples of real, tangible projects that help bring the people of this island together and to allow people who live on one part of the island to more easily work in another, further enhancing the all-island community. This is real investment in the future. It is also the hard slog. We should not be afraid of it; rather, we should embrace it. We know that patience, persistence and relentless hard work pay off. We saw that in the 1980s with the Anglo-Irish Agreement. We also saw it - some of us lived it – with the Good Friday Agreement in the 1990s. These landmark achievements were built on years, if not decades, of painstaking behind-the-scenes work that rarely makes the headlines. It was never a question of rushing to the finish line; rather, it was a patient cultivation of relationships and connection.”
“The value of our investment through this reconciliation fund to date stands at over €8 million. It was just €2.7 million in 2018. Complementing this work within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the shared island civic society fund, which has a budget of over €6 million for the 2025-27 period. It funds North-South co-operation and engagement through increased cross-Border civic society activity. More broadly, the shared island initiative, established in 2020, is working and realising the promise of a more connected and reconciled future on this island. It is the most ambitious agenda set out by any Government in the history of the State to promote co-operation and understanding across this island. We are backing it with €2 billion through the shared island fund.”
“Twenty-eight years after the transformational endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement by the people North and South, we are in a different place, which all of us in this Chamber want to see. We can strive for inclusiveness and a connected island for all communities, where there is room for a wide variety and diversity of views, traditions and identities. This is what is guiding the Government’s current approach, whether through North-South co-operation, our determination to address the legacy of the Troubles, the Government’s reconciliation fund or the shared island initiative. The reconciliation fund has been a flagship programme in the Department of foreign affairs since the 1980s. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, launched a new reconciliation fund strategy in March of this year.”
“There is no single, one-off act we can do as a Government, Parliament or even as a nation to unify the people of this island. Like anything complex or worth doing, such an endeavour can only be achieved through hard work and patience, honest discussions and people-to-people contact, listening to the sincerely held views of all communities on this island and genuinely cherishing all traditions in their riches and diversity. As the Taoiseach said last week, this requires a hard slog. This is not only Government policy; it is a lesson we have all learned from our history. Too often in our past, it has been easy to be convinced by the righteousness of our beliefs and to fail to properly engage with the views of others.”
“The Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, signed by the Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, fundamentally changed Anglo-Irish relations by creating a framework that recognised both nationalist and unionist identities. It paved the way for the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace and prosperity to our island. We remain determined to realise the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement. The enduring peace it has brought to this island still needs to be protected, and the potential it provides for the unity of our people needs to be realised. It is the Government’s view that it will only be realised through focus on and investment in reconciliation. That is why reconciliation is at the heart of the programme for Government.”
“I welcome the opportunity to deliver a closing statement on this Bill on behalf of the Government. I thank colleagues from all sides of the House for their contributions to today’s discussion. Let me begin by reiterating our shared commitment to unity on this island. For the record, I come from a very strong Fenian and republican tradition. My grandfather on my father’s side, Felix Feehan from Cullyhanna, County Armagh, was a republican. After partition, he ended up running a bakery in Tubbercurry, County Sligo. My grandfather on my mother’s side, James Feely, was the commander of the IRA in north Roscommon. He was imprisoned in the War of Independence and released under the Anglo-Irish Treaty. He subsequently became a Sinn Féin councillor and one of the first gardaí síochána.”
“As I stated earlier, building on the national framework for integrated prevention, the Minister launched Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care in May of this year. This policy-associated report was developed in collaboration between the Department of Health, the HSE and Diabetes Ireland. It is Ireland's first national strategy for diabetes. It marks a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland, representing the development of a unified approach to the delivery of diabetes care.”
“I will bring the Senator's views to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I assure her that the Minister for Health really appreciates the importance of ensuring that patients with diabetes in Ireland have access to the latest treatments. The Minister for Health met Diabetes Ireland in April of this year and attended its conference in May. She has been made aware of the group's perspectives on access to CGM sensor technology. As the Senator has outlined, there has been a significant shift in the quality and delivery of diabetes care in recent years. More patients are provided with care in the community at an earlier age. Research into the chronic disease management programme has shown that over 90% of patients with chronic diseases, including diabetes, are now successfully managing their conditions in community settings.”
“On 21 May, the Minister for Health launched Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care. This is Ireland’s first national strategy for diabetes. It sets out recommendations for action in relation to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and paediatric diabetes. The strategy marks a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland, representing the development of a unified approach to the delivery of diabetes care. I again thank Senator Byrne for raising this very important issue today. I will bring her views, concerns and ideas back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.”
“At this point in time, reimbursement support for CGM sensors is based on the HIQA HTA. By the end of 2025, over 27,000 patients in Ireland were approved for reimbursement support for CGM sensors. To date, a HTA of CGM sensors for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus or other types of diabetes has not been undertaken in Ireland. Therefore, there is limited information to support the extension of reimbursement to these patient groups. Such information would include a cost-effectiveness assessment and the budget impact of the measure. The HSE has identified preferred CGM products based on cost effectiveness to manage this expenditure. A second review of CGM sensors is taking place, which will include an update of the preferred CGM sensors evaluation.”