A two-year-old boy from west Cork with a rare form of epilepsy has become the first person in the country to be granted a licence allowing him to be treated with cannabis.

Tristan Forde, from Dunmanway, used to have up to 20 seizures a day caused by a rare form of epilepsy but his daily seizures have virtually stopped since he began taking cannabis oil.

Last December, Tristan and his mother Yvonne moved to Colorado, where unlike in Ireland, the treatment of Tristan's condition with cannabis oil is legal.

Tristan's father and brother remained in west Cork. The split in the family was difficult but Tristan's condition improved dramatically.

While Tristan was being treated in the US, his doctor in Cork applied to Minister for Health Simon Harris for a licence to treat him in Ireland with cannabis oil.

Tristan is the first to be granted such a licence and his treatment can now continue at home.

"Everybody that is in his care are amazed. It is the word we hear most from them ... They're amazed by his progression," Yvonne said.

"We're thrilled that he can continue his treatment with his doctors now."