Vol. 554 No. 5
1191 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding cancer and asthma rates in the lower harbour area in Cork; the way in which such rates compare with the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17153/02]
As the Deputy is aware, cancer statistics are collated by the National Cancer Registry Board, NCRI. I have been informed by the NCRI that it currently does not have sufficient information to analyse cancer rates in small-local areas as would be required in order to present results on cancer rates in the lower harbour area of Cork and to compare these rates to the national average. At present, case addresses in the registry's database are coded to county level only. However, the NCRI is currently in the process of geocoding addresses in their database to district electoral division (DED) level, which will allow for analysis by local area. The NCRI expects to present results on cancer rates at local level in the coming year.
As asthma is not a notifiable disease, there are no precise statistics available on the number of people with the condition in Ireland. Information regarding the number of asthma sufferers in the Cork region is not routinely collected by my Department.
