David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his response. Could the Minister confirm the number of people who sustain head injuries annually throughout Ireland? Is it true that it is between 10,000 and 11,000? How many consultants in rehabilitation medicine are there in Ireland at present? Does he agree that by UK standards we should have 17 consultants, while based on the numbers in the Netherlands we should have 74? How many people are waiting to gain admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital? Is it true that at the start of 2007 there were 120 people waiting for admission? Does the Minister accept that people were waiting between three and six months, and up to 18 months in some cases, for admission to the high-dependency unit? What is his opinion on this, given the importance of early admission to hospital? Can the Minister also tell us how many acute stroke units there are, and their locations?

When will we see action as a result of the report mentioned in the question? When will a national strategic policy on acquired brain injury be developed?

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