3159. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the current situation with the MCAP scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43501/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: A clinical review of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) has not yet commenced. Department of Health officials are currently working on membership of the review group, including a Chair. This is expected to take several weeks following which the review can then commence.

The clinical review group will examine the findings of the Health Research Board’s evidence synthesis publication to determine if there is sufficient evidence to expand the range of conditions covered by the MCAP. Recommendations will then be made to me, as Minister for Health as to whether sufficient evidence exists to include other conditions within the scope of the programme. It is too early at this stage to pre-empt what conditions the outcome of the review may recommend.