579. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health what consideration he has given to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice recommendation to expand the MCAP to those for whom conventional pain management has proven ineffective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11036/23]

Stephen Donnelly Minister for Health:An evidence based synthesis and clinical review of the MCAP is being carried out by the Health Research Board for the Department of Health following which a clinical review group will complete an assessment to see if there is evidence to support the recommendation of the addition of any other clinical indications to the MCAP programme. As any recommendation(s) made by the clinical review group will be evidence-based they are the only recommendations that will be considered.