Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Some 12,000 people in Ireland suffer from Parkinson's disease. Each and every one of them lives with the disease without much State assistance. Local county-level Parkinson's groups have operated in Ireland for many years. In Cork, one of these has been making the lives of Parkinson's sufferers somewhat easier. It raises funds locally for research and equipment for patients and last year purchased a minibus to take Parkinson's sufferers to events. This group keeps people with Parkinson's together so they can share information to help each other through a very difficult time in their lives.

The umbrella group, Parkinson's Association of Ireland, has experienced numerous changes in the past 12 months, many of which are affecting its branches on the ground. The association has sent strongly worded emails to the heads of local branches at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. I ask the Minister to bear in mind that these branch heads suffer with Parkinson's disease themselves. This is worrying and upsetting members.

I ask the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, to step in with the association to end any concerns on the part of the local branches before its AGM on 10 October. I ask the Government to try to get the local branches back to work on the ground, which will benefit Parkinson's sufferers in every town, village and country area throughout this country.

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