Alan Shatter
Ceist:204 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the moneys allocated by his Department in each of the past 30 years for use in the treatment of tobacco related illnesses. [12872/99]
Written Answers. - Smoking Related Illnesses.
In allocating funds each year to health agencies we do not distinguish between funds for treating tobacco related diseases and other costs.
There are a number of diseases such as lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease associated with tobacco consumption. However tobacco is not always the causative factor in every case. Therefore data in relation to expenditure incurred specifically on tobacco related disease and illness each year can only be computed accurately by way of econometric and epidemiological models.
However there is considerable information available on the extent of the demands made on the health services as a result of tobacco related diseases. I am today providing information on hospital admissions and on deaths from such diseases in response to a question from Deputy Power.