Vol. 415 No. 5
30 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if she will give details of the estimated number of people in Ireland who suffer from asthma; whether the incidence is higher in Ireland than in other European countries; and whether adequate funds are being devoted to research into the causes of asthma.
Asthma is not a notifiable disease and most cases are treated by general practitioners rather than in hospital. Detailed information on the number of people suffering from the condition is not therefore available. In addition, it is difficult to determine a precise medical definition of asthma; the term can cover a range of respiratory diseases including bronchitis.
The Health Research Board is currently funding a study of asthma as part of an EC concerted action programme. The Irish element of the study is examining the prevalance of and risk factors associated with asthma in both rural and urban Ireland. The board allocatd £9,000 to the study in 1991 and £15,000 in 1992. The question of funding in 1993 will be considered by the board later this year.
