791. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people who are currently accessing cannabis-based products via the medical cannabis access programme; the conditions for which they are accessing these products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33917/23]

792. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health for an update on the number of people who are currently accessing cannabis-based treatments via the Ministerial-licensing access route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33918/23]

794. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health for an update on the review of the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33920/23]

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 791, 792 and 794 together.

There are currently 47 patients availing of the MCAP being treated for one of the three stated conditions covered by the MCAP, namely

a. Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions whilst under expert medical supervision;

b. Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes whilst under expert medical supervision;

c. Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications whilst under expert medical supervision.

To date 315 Ministerial Licences, issued pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, have been issued to clinicians for the treatment of 75 different patients. Currently there are 36 patients being treated under the programme.

A clinical review of the MCAP will commence at the conclusion of the evidence gathering and evidence synthesis being carried out by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department and peer review of the evidence synthesis. It is expected that the clinical review will commence in Q4 of 2023.