Vol. 514 No. 3
195 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the involvement, if any, his Department has in medical research in the health services; and the dedicated funding made available for medical research from the Department's budget. [4037/00]
The Health Research Board is the statutory body with responsibility for health research in Ireland. Its functions are to promote, assist, commission or conduct medical, health and health services research and such epidemiological research as may appropriately be carried out at national level, to assist and support other health agencies in promoting or conducting epidemiological research and to liaise and co-operate with other research bodies in Ireland or elsewhere in promoting, commissioning or conducting relevant research.
In 1999 the Health Research Board allocation was £5.170 million, of which £320,000 was spent on cancer research. Under the terms of the action plan for the implementation of the national cancer strategy, the board also received additional funding of £320,000 for cancer research in respect of period 1997-2000 inclusive.
The board's revenue allocation for 2000 is £6.803 million. In addition I am also allocating £700,000 capital funding for research equipment. Both of these figures represent increases of approximately 32% and 40% respectively over last year's figures.
The National Cancer Registry Board also plays a key role in establishing a comprehensive and systematic picture of trends in cancer illnesses and deaths in Ireland. In 1999, the board's funding was £724,000, which has been increased to £800,000 this year.
