Vol. 443 No. 2
84 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he has received submissions regarding the condition known as ME; if he will meet with the ME Trust in Ireland regarding funding for their organisation, the provision of an ME centre, the development of a role for general practitioners in relation to ME, the provision of counselling services, therapy and a national programme to deal with ME and the need to undertake research; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Submissions were received last year in my Department regarding research funding for the Irish ME Trust. Health research is carried out under the aegis of the Health Research Board which has an open invitation policy regarding applications for research funding and allocates its resources annually according to the priorities it attaches to the various requests received.
The funding of voluntary bodies is primarily a matter for health boards who may provide grants to such organisations under section 65 of the Health Act, 1953. The ME Trust applied for lottery funding in 1992 but due to the demands on funds I was not able to accede to that request. I have received no request for a meeting with the ME Trust.
People with ME can avail of services provided in the normal course of health service provision through the health boards. A general practitioner provides personal, primary and continuing care to individual patients and families. In relation to medical conditions generally, including ME, a general practitioner will be concerned with prevention and anticipatory care as well as an effective response to illness and patient rehabilitation.
