Vol. 560 No. 1
603 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason asthma levels here are at 12.2% of the population as against just 6% in Sweden, 4.7% in France, and 4.2% in the Netherlands; and the measures being taken in those countries to deal with asthma which are not being taken here. [1005/03]
677 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will undertake a fundamental medical and environmental research study to find out the reason asthma levels here are so much higher than in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1399/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 603 and 677 together.
The study to which the Deputy refers was carried out on asthma in Ireland by Allen and Hanburys in conjunction with the Asthma Society in 2001. This research was an extension to the Asthma Insights and Reality in Europe (AIRE) survey, which was carried out in seven countries in Europe in 1999. This study has confirmed that there are some variations in asthma prevalence figures throughout the European Union confirming previous findings in the European Community respiratory health survey. Some of the likely factors, which may influence this variation, include better diagnosis, environmental factors, including smoking and workplace exposures to respiratory irritants. International studies are being carried out to investigate these possible links.
