I thank the Deputy and I acknowledge his constant advocacy with regard to new cancer drugs and drugs in general. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. As the Deputy knows, the HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Reimbursement is for licensed indications that have been granted marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority. In making a reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the State via public funds are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, and having regard to the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. There are formal processes that govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded or reimbursed or both. An external review of this process, published in 2023, found it to be operating in line with international norms. In the same year, 50% of applications for reimbursement progressed following a rapid review without the need for a full health technology assessment. Recommendations made in the review have been implemented. These include the introduction of an application tracker to enhance transparency within the pricing and reimbursement process and enhancing the capacity across the process with the recruitment of 34 additional staff. The timing of company applications for new medicine reimbursement in different countries can vary for several reasons, not least the available market share in each country. Once a company responsible for the commercialisation of a new medicine receives marketing authorisation, it can apply for reimbursement in the country or countries of its choice. Ireland, by virtue of its size and market share, may not always be prioritised by a company in the first stages of marketing a new product. Reports describing timelines for reimbursement from EMA approval to HSE reimbursement approval do not consider this important factor and misrepresent the process, as statutorily the HSE is not able to add a new medicine to the reimbursement list unless an application is received. Additionally, the initial commercial offering from manufacturers for medicines can have significant implications for the negotiation process, including its duration. In the context of a finite health budget, it is vital that the State ensures good value for money for public expenditure and to ensure that the available budget maximises as much access as possible to medicines and other healthcare services for patients. The State acknowledges the importance of access to medicines and has made considerable investments in new medicines in recent years. In 2023, a record €3 billion of public funding was spent on medicines for patients in Ireland, so it is not that we are not spending a huge amount of funding on drugs. This €3 billion out of the full budget represents almost €1 of every €8 spent by the State on healthcare. In the last three years, over €645 million was spent on medicines to treat patients with cancer, and investment in such treatments continues to be a priority. I take on board the statistics the Deputy articulated at the start, and I will bring them to the attention of the Minister.

Sentiment score: 0.12

I thank the Deputy. The level of investment in recent years is unprecedented in supporting patients through the availability of the latest and wide-ranging medicines. Since 2020, €128 million has been made available to fund access to 217 new medicines, including 74 for treating cancer and 57 for treating rare diseases. For 2025, an additional €30 million will be made available to enable access to new medicines. This will come directly from efficiencies to be achieved by the HSE. It is important to go back to the statement that once the company responsible for the commercialisation of a new medicine receives marketing authorisation, it can apply for reimbursement in the country or countries of its choice. Ireland, by virtue of its size and market share, may not always be prioritised by a company in the first stages and that has to be taken on board. Second, the pharmaceutical industry must also play its part. Ireland is open for business and encourages timely applications for reimbursement with reasonable pricing offers. We are confident this will support improved access to medicines in Ireland, including in the area of oncology. I thank the Deputy and I will bring what he has said back to the Minister.

Sentiment score: 0.33

I thank the Deputy for his very interesting contribution. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I agree with every word he said. As Minister of State with responsibility for mental health services, I am aware that extracurricular activities play a key role in helping learners to grow and succeed, both in and out of the classroom, and especially in regard to their emotional health and well-being. By taking part in sports, music, art, debate, volunteering and other clubs or competitions, young people build important life skills such as teamwork, time management and leadership, which are really important in their future careers. These experiences allow students to discover their strengths, develop confidence and express themselves creatively. They also provide a valuable way for learners to make friends and feel part of a group. All of this contributes to better well-being, stronger school engagement and improved learning outcomes. Through extracurricular activities, learners have the chance to explore new interests and build habits that support lifelong learning. They become more motivated, more resilient and better prepared for future study, training or work. I was interested to hear about the various changes in computer science and other subjects across schools in Offaly. The activities help create well-rounded learners who are not only academically capable but also socially and emotionally confident. I recognise the importance of extracurricular activities and the significant role they play in enriching the learner experience. This is reflected in several strategies and policies from the Department of Education and Youth. The Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033 highlights the value of learning that takes place outside formal settings. It acknowledges that supports for learners beyond the classroom have grown and continue to evolve. Similarly, the STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 makes clear that STEM learning is not limited to schools or early years settings. It happens in a variety of spaces such as at home, in museums, during coding workshops, which the Deputy spoke about, and in the workplace. It offers huge opportunities for new learners. One of the key actions in the policy statement is to "[p]rovide opportunities for all learners to take part in STEM through informal, co-curricular, and extra-curricular programmes". In line with this, the Department is proud to support national extracurricular programmes that encourage innovation, inquiry and participation. This includes funding for the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, SciFest, ESB Science Blast and the Engineers Ireland STEPS Programme. These initiatives inspire thousands of learners every year and help to promote creativity, problem-solving and teamwork in fun and engaging ways. The Department greatly values the voice and contributions of young people. We recognise their active participation in a wide range of other projects and competitions such as VEX IQ Robotics and the Lego League. These opportunities are made possible through the combined efforts of schools, parents and learners, whose dedication and resourcefulness, particularly in fundraising, are vital to participation. However, due to the wide variety and growing number of opportunities now available, the Department has not been in a position to fund individual projects or competition entries. That said, the Minister fully acknowledges the importance of these experiences for learners and the exceptional work being done in schools to support them. The annual provision for STEM funding commitments is just shy of €900,000. A couple of the initiatives are seeking increases in funding to facilitate an increase in numbers participating and the rising costs of putting on those events. The Department is actively considering those requests, with decisions to be made shortly.

Sentiment score: 0.49

I certainly will take the Deputy's request to the Minister. At present, the Department supports a number of national extracurricular programmes through core funding, including €400,000 for the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, €200,000 for SciFest, €250,000 for ESB Science Blast and €43,000 for the Engineers Ireland STEPS Programme. That gives a total of €893,000. These programmes have broad national reach and strong alignment with curricular and strategic goals. However, I fully recognise the demand for broader support, particularly for schools wishing to participate in a growing number of local, national and international competitions. The Deputy mentioned the schools competing in Texas. The Minister has committed to reviewing the current approach to this area, including the potential for additional or more flexible funding models. While no dedicated fund has yet been established, this is a matter under active consideration and is subject to budgetary commitments. I have no doubt the Minister will consider this under the Estimates process for budget 2026. I will convey the Deputy's request to her. I congratulate all the schools that seem to be very high achievers in his area.

Sentiment score: 0.27