Vol. 508 No. 3
232 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money allocated to research into retinal degenerative disease for each of the past three years; his views on whether this money is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19012/99]
The Health Research Board 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 pro moting, commissioning or conducting relevant research.
The Health Research Board 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 Health Research Board. Following peer review, research project funding is granted to the projects of highest scientific merit.
The research has been supported by 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.
