Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to the House. I tabled a similar motion on cystic fibrosis a few months ago and I expect I will table another one in a few months time because one of the weaknesses in politics is that we are good at raising issues but the difficulty is following through on them and ensuring progress has been made.

I seek an update on the progress that has been made in the treatment services provided to people with cystic fibrosis. Those who suffer with this problem form a group that is largely ignored. Dr. Gallagher, who is a leading specialist in cystic fibrosis in St. Vincent's Hospital, said lately there had been no improvement in this area in 20 years. They are not exactly the words we all want to hear.

Although Ireland has the highest rate of cystic fibrosis in Europe we have some of the worst facilities. As far as I am aware, the cystic fibrosis gene is dormant in all of us but it can be activated if two people with this gene have children. It is a serious problem.

I am aware that up to three years ago there was a cystic fibrosis specialist, Dr. Cosgrove, in Waterford Regional Hospital. He retired and, for some reason, was never replaced. A paediatrician looks after cystic fibrosis patients but the patient to whom I refer recently turned 17 years of age and, therefore, is no longer eligible for paediatric care. He has been informed he must travel to Dublin and the first problem he faces is that he will have to wait months for an appointment. In addition, no isolation unit will be available unlike in Waterford Regional Hospital, which provides him with his own room and privacy. Cystic fibrosis sufferers are more prone to infection and it is vital that they should have their own rooms.

The Pollock report was published early last year. It provided an assessment of the current and future need of cystic fibrosis patients and made a number of recommendations. It concluded that fewer units of a more significant size were needed to sustain viable staffing levels and to ensure staff had a sufficient workload to enable them to maintain their skills level. The HSE established a working group following the report and it is due to report shortly. The Government has provided additional funding in this area amounting to €4.78 million, which is welcome but more money needs to be invested. A daughter of one of my constituents in Carlow had to sleep in a chair in the accident and emergency department of Tallaght Hospital recently before being admitted. That is not on, especially given that cystic fibrosis sufferers require regular hospital stays.

Sufferers are also under pressure because organ donations have reduced worldwide following advances in intensive care practices. Michael Scanlan, the Secretary General of the Department of Health and Children recently wrote to Deputy Twomey about this issue. He admitted in the letter that there were 76 donors in 2005, down from 89 the previous year, which is worrying. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply. I hope he will update the House on progress since the publication of the Pollock report and clarify what is the difficulty with the appointment of a consultant dealing with cystic fibrosis at Waterford Regional Hospital.