Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Only 3% of Irish Parkinson's patients have access to deep brain stimulation, which is established as a standard treatment for patients with medication frequency issues. Therefore, the implementation of the neurorehabilitation strategy is critical to people with Parkinson's. This strategy was published in 2011 but there is still no implementation plan in place. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to publish an implementation plan, but investment will be critical and we need investment in this area. Ireland has less than half the number of rehabilitation beds that we need for our population. We have the lowest number of consultants in rehabilitation medicine in Europe. This is completely unacceptable.

With regard to Parkinson's nurse specialists, there are only five in the country and three of these are in Dublin. I ask the Minister of State to think about this. There is one in Limerick, one in Galway and three in Dublin. I ask the Minister of State to provide this service for all of the patients throughout the country on a fair basis. I am asking especially for Kerry. It is up to every Deputy to stand up for his or her own community. I am standing up for the people of Kerry and I thank those in the local branch of the Parkinson's association in Kerry. Its president is Grace McCrae, and Connie Dillon and Brenda Edmonds are also involved. Dr. Helena Moore, a neurologist in Tralee, does tremendous work for all of the Kerry patients who come to her.

This is a serious problem. These are people in trouble. It is not a reversible disease. Once someone presents with it, it progresses and get worse and worse day by day. I ask the Minister of State please to take this to the Government and work to ensure we get fair play for people who present with this disorder.

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