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

This issue has already been raised several times. However, it is important. Next week is national brain awareness week. There are 800,000 people in Ireland who have neurological issues. I welcome Tony Wilkinson and his wife, who are in the Gallery. Mr. Wilkinson has done Trojan work for the people of this country in the context of Parkinson’s disease. In the implementation framework relating to the national neurorehabilitation strategy for the period 2019 to 2021, a dedicated neurorehabilitation team was recommended to support patients with stroke acquired brain injury and Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. As yet, this team has not been put in place. There is a related issue in that there have been supply issues in respect of the drug Rivotril in the past year. This has caused great anxiety, especially among patients with neurological disorders. Is the Tánaiste in a position to assure me that there will be a constant supply of Rivotril for all patients? When will the community neurorehabilitation team be put in place to support these patients?

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