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Health Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 April 2008

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Ceisteanna (300)

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

357 Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on the recent Inhale report which stated that the reason Ireland had such a high level of respiratory disease was either genetic or possibly climate related, that health education was failing the socially deprived groups and that health prevention attempts had failed to reach these groups and had only been effective among middle and upper class sectors. [11791/08]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The study, which was prepared by the Irish Thoracic Society, has made an important contribution to our understanding of respiratory disease and the burden it poses on individuals and the healthcare system. The report has identified the contribution that lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma make to the overall burden of respiratory disease.

Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in Ireland with over 1,600 deaths in 2004 from cancer of the respiratory system. A number of measures have been put in place with respect to cancer control including the appointment of Professor Tom Keane as National Cancer Control Director to oversee the delivery of cancer services and this year an additional €35 million has been allocated for cancer control including €15 million to support the initial implementation of the cancer control programme and the National Plan for Radiation Oncology.

Tobacco control and reducing both the levels of smoking and the numbers of people taking up smoking continues to be a priority for my Department. The Smoke Free At Work legislation is acknowledged by the Irish Thoracic Society as a successful initiative in reducing the impact of tobacco.

The Irish Thoracic Society has also acknowledged and welcomed steps being taken to tackle respiratory disease including joint hospital/community initiatives such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outreach programmes, pulmonary rehabilitation initiatives and the National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee which is working on measures to control tuberculosis.

A national chronic obstructive pulmonary disease strategy is currently being developed by the Health Service Executive. The work of the strategy group is well advanced and aims to provide a model of care which will provide an equitable, high quality, effective and efficient service to the population in the prevention and treatment of this condition. The strategy group also aims to strengthen health promotion to prevent the development of COPD, including measures to reduce the rate of smoking.

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