asked the Minister for Health whether he will indicate the means available to a chief medical officer of health for determining the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection in an area such as Ballymun satellite town, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Respiratory Tract Infection, Incidence in Ballymun.
47.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
I have nothing to add to the information contained in earlier replies to Parliamentary Questions. In my reply to the Deputy's question on 17th June, 1970, I stated that I had seen a report of a survey of office conditions in Zurich, which was the only Swiss report known to me, and I indicated that such conditions would not be comparable with Ballymun.
As regards the means available to a chief medical officer of health for determining the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection in an area such as Ballymun, the Deputy is, of course, aware that only certain specified infectious diseases are notifiable. Ordinary head colds are not notifiable. If the Deputy thinks that there is a particularly high incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in the Ballymun area, I suggest that he should submit his evidence on this subject to the chief medical officer of the Eastern Health Board.
Is the Minister aware that he answered a question here quoting the chief medical officer as stating there was no evidence that any increase in upper respiratory tract diseases in Ballymun was associated with the compulsory central heating which is introduced there? The Minister has now admitted that there is no way in which he can state categorically in the House, as he did on that occasion, that there was no increase in the infection and no need to set up a commission to investigate the possibilities of the existence of this disease.
I disagree with the Deputy in regard to his attitude on this matter. I am willing to investigate many things but I am not willing to investigate this question on the basis of the information given.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.