Vol. 509 No. 5
120 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide matching funds through the Health Research Board towards research being carried out by Trinity College into retinal degenerative disease (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20895/99]
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 HRB currently funds one large project in the area of retinal degenerative disease 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.
This research has also 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.
