1798. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the operation and rollout of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) in 2026; the number of patients currently approved; the number of consultants prescribing under the programme; the plans to review and expand the programme, including the list of qualifying conditions, to improve safe and regulated access for patients who require medical cannabis treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18977/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: Since the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) came into operation in 2021, 74 patients have been approved with 22 consultants submitting applications on behalf of their patients.

The three specified conditions approved under the programme are:

• Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions;
• Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes;
• Severe, refractory epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications.

The review of the MCAP is in the scoping stages. My Department officials are working to identify appropriate membership of a clinical review group, including the appointment of a chairperson. The review will evaluate the current operation of the MCAP and examine the appropriateness of expanding the range of conditions covered by the programme, where sufficient evidence exists that cannabis treatment may prove beneficial. The publication by the HRB will be an important input to the review process.

The review will commence once the chairperson and membership of the group are firmly in place.