Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Tuberculosis Statistics.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

264 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of tuberculosis registered in each health board for the years 1990 to 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9821/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The number of cases of tuberculosis reported by each health board in each of the years 1990-96 is as follows:

Health Board	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Eastern	191	183	201	148	167	154	113
Midland	24	33	38	22	30	18	17
Mid-Western	78	67	65	50	55	48	56
North-Eastern	29	38	30	30	35	26	37
North-Western	28	47	33	78	19	24	15
South-Eastern	59	36	47	64	43	37	27
Southern	90	109	114	127	95	112	123
Western	114	127	76	79	80	39	46
Totals	613	640	604	598	524	458	434

The Health Act, 1947, and the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1981, provide the legislative basis for the control of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, in Ireland. The control of infectious diseases is a matter, in the first instance, for the health boards.

The report of the working party on tuberculosis, which had been established to evaluate policy on the prevention and treatment of the disease in Ireland and to make appropriate recommendations, was published in 1996. The report made recommendations for the prevention and treatment of the disease. The recommendations covered a range of issues, including epidemiology, surveillance, screening, preventative therapy, clinical management, and laboratory diagnosis. As recommended in the report, a permanent committee, the National Tuberculosis Committee, was established to advise on a detailed national strategy for the control and management of tuberculosis and it is developing such a strategy at present. It continues to review all issues concerning the control and management of tuberculosis.