Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 648: To ask the Minister for Health the reason Fibromyalgia does not present in any of the disability categories of the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database published at the end of 2010; his plans to have it included in the disability category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16961/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The objective of the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database (NPSDD) is to provide an overview of the specialised health and personal social service needs of people with a physical, sensory and/or speech and language disability. The NPSDD Annual Report is based on monitoring current service provision and future service requirements over a five-year period using the demographic profiles of the individuals registered on the database.

The NPSDD contains information on the primary and secondary diagnostic categories giving rise to the physical or sensory disability. The individual diagnostic categories reported are based on the headings of the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). On the NPSDD Fibromyalgia does not have a separate diagnostic category but is currently captured in the musculo-skeletal system grouping with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and back problems – it is recorded under the Unspecified/Other musculo-skeletal diagnostic category. In the 2010 annual report there are 208 people (0.8% of those registered) recorded in this category.

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 649: To ask the Minister for Health the courses available for persons with disabilities to participate in to help them make the transition to independent living; the way persons can apply for these courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16964/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Rehabilitative Training programmes are designed to equip participants with the basic personal, social and work related skills that will enable them to progress to greater levels of independence and integration in the community. There are 2,800 rehabilitative training places with approximately 3,000 people attending the courses each year. Trainees access places through the HSE Occupational Guidance Service.

In addition to this, voluntary service providers may provide other training to service users to help them transition to independent living. I have asked the HSE to provide details of other such courses to you.