asked the Minister for Health if his Department has made application to the EC for some part of the allocation of £50 million to fund a research programme into cancer and AIDS.
Written Answers. - Cancer and AIDS Research.
187.
The EC Commission recently approved the fourth Medical and Health Research Programme for the period 1987 to 1991. The programme includes research into AIDS and cancer and provides a total funding allocation of 32.0 million ECU or £40 million approximately for research in these two areas.
The Department of Health is currently discussing funding for a cancer register under the programme. In addition, the Department has requested the Health Research Board to develop protocols for AIDS studies which will form the basis for research proposals to be presented to the EC for funding.
Ireland is currently also participating in the EC study on paediatric AIDS. This study is an important element in the Governments strategy on AIDS.