Ms Alison Cotter:

Deputy Wynne mentioned the figures I raised about costs. MS Ireland has research that states delaying or reducing disability due to MS could reduce costs to the Irish health system by up to €19 million per annum. We also published a document in 2022, A Societal Cost of MS, which came to the conclusion that the direct, indirect, and intangible costs associated with MS cost Irish society €483 million per year. Figures are one thing and the impact on a person is another.

Deputy Wynne mentioned the disparity in regional neurologists. People living with MS and other neurological conditions across the country must travel 100 km or 120 km to see their neurologist. There is a financial cost associated with that given the cost of fuel, but there is a cost to the person as well. Fatigue is a very common symptom experienced by someone living with multiple sclerosis. People with MS must visit a neurologist at least once a year, if not more, and after a visit, a mother, perhaps might not be able to get out of bed for a couple of days. She has to face her children and explain why they cannot do something today. It is because of the fatigue caused by having to travel so far to access vital services that should be on their doorstep.