Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. With respect to the Deputy and his devotion to the people of Kerry, he is always in the Chamber speaking about his constituents. We all have constituents. I know how when people have Parkinson's it affects not only the individuals, but their families. In saying this, I am sorry some of the statistics do not cover Kerry in particular, about which the Deputy is speaking, and I will ask that further details can be given to the Deputy. I have taken note of the fact he has said there are only five nurse specialists in the country, with three of them in Dublin and two in the rest of the country. This is something that needs to be addressed.

With regard to deep brain stimulation, I was a member of the health committee for a long time. I remember being at two or three meetings where individuals who had undergone the procedure came before the committee.

I was really struck by the fact that many of these people came on so well after they had deep brain stimulation procedures. I will raise this matter with the Minister and ask him to come back to the Deputy on it. I have taken a number of other notes that I will decipher when I go back upstairs. I thank the Deputy again. I will raise all the issues he has brought to my attention with the Minister.

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