Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Health if a policy endorsing a framework for the management of haemochromatosis, HH, will be compiled. [17017/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In June 2006, the Report of a Working Group on haemochromatosis was published. It examined the nature and extent of haemochromatosis in Ireland and advised on the actions necessary to address the problems caused by it. The Report makes a series of recommendations relating to the management and treatment of haemochromatosis. The report was circulated to the HSE and other relevant organisations for implementation.

The HSE is currently formulating a programme to ensure that everyone with haemochromatosis will have early access to diagnosis and treatment in every part of the country. This approach will include a programme of awareness among primary and secondary care clinicians including GPs, hospital doctors, nurses in primary, secondary and community care roles, nutritionists and physiotherapists.

It is envisaged that access to quality care will be provided by an integrated programme of community-based and hospital-based diagnostic and regular review services. This will be combined with easy-access community-based phlebotomy clinics in appropriate locations throughout the country. Many people with haemochromatosis are eligible to become blood donors, and many already do so both at regular blood donation clinics and especially at a specific clinic held every week by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. This has been a very successful and welcome development, and it is expected that increased access of donors with haemochromatosis to regular blood donation clinics will form part of the programme.

In addition, a sum of €100,000 was granted to the Irish Haemochromatosis Association, from my Department's National Lottery funding, in December 2010 to support the Association in raising awareness about the condition. The Association, which has around 1,600 members, has an informative website and publishes regular newsletters. With the additional funding it intends to publish and circulate information to GPs, practice nurses and newly diagnosed patients and to create greater awareness of the condition among medical professionals and the general public.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding support in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin [17020/11]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding rehabilitation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17149/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 492 together.

As the Deputies questions relate to service matters I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Health the diabetes paediatric services available to children living in north Tipperary and south Offaly; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this service is insufficient to meet the needs of these children; if he will consider developing local services in the constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17036/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Health his views that there is an urgent need for the national re-organisation of services for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in County Limerick and when will the provision of insulin pumps be made available to persons with diabetes in County Limerick. [17043/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together.

The working group is made up of a multidisciplinary team with representation from a number of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, Podiatrists, GPs etc. The Diabetes Federation of Ireland is also a member of this working group. The National Diabetes Working group is working through a number of key objectives, including the implementation of projects such as Diabetes Retinopathy Screening and a multidisciplinary Footcare package for patients with diabetes.

The National Clinical Programme for Diabetes - which is working on care for children and adolescents with diabetes to be considered for inclusion in the 2012 HSE Service Plan - is also actively designing an Integrated Care solution, for inclusion within the Chronic Disease Watch process in collaboration with the Primary Care National Clinical Programme. With a newly established National Clinical Programme for Paediatrics, the whole area of improved services for children and adolescents with diabetes will be examined in detail and solutions worked through.

Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Health his views that the recommendation made by Diabetes Action which proposes a re-organisation of diabetes paediatric services in eight networks one of which would serve 280 to 300 children with diabetes in Counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, so that intensive therapies can be accessed locally [17045/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The working group is made up of a multidisciplinary team with representation from a number of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, Podiatrists, GPs etc. The Diabetes Federation of Ireland is also a member of this working group. The National Diabetes Working group is working through a number of key objectives, including the implementation of projects such as Diabetes Retinopathy Screening and a multidisciplinary Footcare package for patients with diabetes.

The National Clinical Programme for Diabetes - which is working on care for children and adolescents with diabetes to be considered for inclusion in the 2012 HSE Service Plan - is also actively designing an Integrated Care solution, for inclusion within the Chronic Disease Watch process in collaboration with the Primary Care National Clinical Programme. With a newly established National Clinical Programme for Paediatrics, the whole area of improved services for children and adolescents with diabetes will be examined in detail and solutions worked through.