Vol. 518 No. 6
353 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on a recent survey carried out by the National Children's Hospital which showed that Ireland has more than twice the rate of insulin dependent diabetes in children than was previously estimated; and the plans he has to establish a national registry to monitor the disease. [13049/00]
I understand from the Eastern Regional Health Authority, which has responsibility for the provision of health services in the eastern region, that a study was carried out by the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, incorporating the National Children's Hospital to estimate the incidence of insulin dependent diabetes in children.
A copy of the study was not presented to me, although I understand from the authority that it was a comprehensive one which may form a baseline for monitoring the incidence of diabetes in children in the future. The outcome of the study showed the incidence of children with diabetes to be similar to that in the United Kingdom.
