We are pleased to report that a recent Dáil motion on improving access to GP care across Ireland was recently supported by all sides of the Oireachtas.
The motion, which was introduced by the Social Democrats and led by their Health Spokesperson Deputy Pádraig Rice, included a call to expand the Chronic Disease Management Programme to include epilepsy.
The expansion of the CDMP to include epilepsy has been one of our key advocacy campaigns since the 2024 General election. The CDMP sees GPs proactively review patients in relation to both their long-term health condition and their general health. This proactive approach can help ensure that the patient’s long-term health is monitored and is proactive in screening the patient for other potential health risks. We believe that if epilepsy were to be added to the CDMP, it would help encourage GPs to upskill in their knowledge of epilepsy and ultimately, this would help to relieve pressure on already stretched specialist epilepsy services, leading to better health outcomes for people with epilepsy.
During speeches on the motion, Deputy Eoghan Kenny and Deputy Ann Graves specifically referenced our campaign to include epilepsy on the CDMP and in the lead up to the motion being heard, we contacted all TDs outlining why we feel that epilepsy being added to the CDMP would be a positive development and encouraged them to support the motion and our calls to expand the CDMP.
We were pleased to see the motion passed unopposed by Government. While the motion passing is not a commitment to epilepsy being added to CDMP, its passage is an important acknowledgement of support for this becoming a reality in the future. You can read the transcript of the motion by visiting the Oireachtas website.
The motion being heard and our recent contact with all TDs has also led to several Dáil questions being raised with the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. You can see the most recent responses on this to Deputies Barry Ward and Ruth Coppinger below:
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For Written Answer on : 03/03/2026
Question Number(s): 863,864,913 Question Reference(s): 16643/26, 16644/26, 16850/26
Department: Health
Asked by: Barry Ward T.D., Ruth Coppinger T.D.
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QUESTION
* To ask the Minister for Health if she has engaged with Epilepsy Ireland regarding their call to expand the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- Barry Ward T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3 March, 2026.
* To ask the Minister for Health her views on the merits of expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- Barry Ward T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3 March, 2026.
* To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- Ruth Coppinger T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3 March, 2026.
REPLY
The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period.
The CDM Programme represents a new approach in Ireland to working with patients to manage their healthcare. It has brought the care for chronic disease further into the community and closer to the patient, and has reduced hospital attendance by patients with one or more of the specified conditions.
The Programme was rolled out on a phased basis since it was first introduced in 2020. It has since been expanded, with a further expansion planned in the coming months. The Programme was expanded in 2023 to include hypertension and to include women who have had gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. Work is currently underway to further expand the Programme to include Chronic Kidney Disease, among other conditions.
Further expansion of the Programme to include additional conditions would require rigorous clinical assessment and engagement with various stakeholders, including the GPs delivering the service. Nonetheless, this could be considered in the future in the context of resource availability. I have received correspondence from Epilepsy Ireland in relation to the possible inclusion of epilepsy in the Programme and my Department is currently considering the content of that correspondence.
We would like to thank all Deputies who have expressed support for our calls for epilepsy to be added to the CDMP, with a particular word of thanks to Deputy Padraig Rice for including our calls in this wider motion about improving access to GP care across Ireland – as well as to all Deputies who spoke in support of our calls and those who have subsequently submitted Parliamentary Questions on the matter.
We will continue to provide updates on this campaign on our website and social media channels. In the meantime, you can learn more about all of our ongoing advocacy efforts by visiting the ‘Advocacy’ section of our website.
Should you require any information or support about your or your loved ones epilepsy, please do not hesitate to contact your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the ‘Our Local Service’ section of our website.