Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 1

Written Answers. - ME Research.

Mary Coughlan

Ceist:

78 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Health if he will commission a research project into the history and treatment of ME/CFS; if he will classify ME/CFS as a long-term illness for disabled person's maintenance allowance purposes; and if he will provide educative measures for medical professionals to train them in identifying and managing these diseases. [14801/96]

John Ellis

Ceist:

95 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health the funding, if any, he proposes to make available in his 1997 departmental Estimate for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis. [14582/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 95 together.

Public funding for health research in Ireland is channelled primarily through the Health Research Board. The board is not currently undertaking research into ME. Any person or body seeking funds to enable such research to be undertaken should submit a proposal to the board.

The condition is the subject of widespread international research. My Department, and the medical profession generally, keep themselves informed of major developments in the area so that the condition can be identified and managed in the best possible way.

Disabled person's maintenance allowance is granted on the basis of a medical examination and a means test. No specific illnesses or disabilities give automatic entitlement to the allowance, but persons suffering from ME may of course be considered for the allowance in the same way as all other persons who make an application.