Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Medical Research.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

244 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the research which is being carried out into polycystic kidney disease; the funding which is being provided for research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7542/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

340 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people suffering from polycystic kidney disease in 1999, 2000 and 2001. [8146/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

341 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding available for research into the medical condition of polycystic kidney disease, and the funding made available to research institutes to carry out such research. [8147/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 340 and 341 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of people suffering from polycystic kidney disease is not routinely collected by my Department. However, I have asked the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the chief executive officers of the health boards to examine the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.

However, the number of hospital in-patient admissions with a principal diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease in 1999 was 43 and in 2000 was 69. The figures for 2001 are not yet available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Deputy may be aware that 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 or conducting relevant research. The provision of funding for science and health research is, in the first instance, a matter for the HRB.

I have been advised that the HRB is not currently funding research in this area. The HRB funds research across a broad spectrum of health areas following a process of open competition and international peer review. Applications in the area of polycystic kidney disease from any research institute would be welcome.