Vol. 508 No. 1
411 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if sufficient funding will be made available to the Health Research Board in order that research into retinal degenerative disease receives realistic funding. [17399/99]
461 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will increase research grant aid for fighting blindness in the circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17597/99]
474 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the resources given by his Department to the research project at Trinity College and elsewhere assisted by the Health Research Board into retinitis pigmentosa; if his attention has been drawn to the level of charity funds given to this project; if his Department's funding is usually fixed as a percentage of the project's cost; and if he will examine the matter with a view to considerably increasing the funding. [17651/99]
478 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide an increased research grant aid for fighting blindness in relation to a disease (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17798/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 411, 461, 474 and 478 together.
The Health Research Board – HRB – 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, commissioning or conducting relevant research.
The HRB currently funds one large project in this area to the value of £375,000 over five years. This funding supports research at TCD, UCD and UCC. Funding commenced in October 1996. Project schemes for funding are advertised widely by the HRB. Following peer review, research project funding is granted to the projects of highest scientific merit.
The research has been supported by both national and international funding agencies operating in the scientific research field and it is understood that substantial investment has been made from these sources over the last decade.
