John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank Senator Ross for raising this issue as it gives me the opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to services for older people and to outline the context in regard to the Irish Osteoporosis Society.

Osteoporosis can affect men, women and children of all ages. As many cases of osteoporosis remain undetected until a fracture is sustained, it is difficult to give the exact incidence and prevalence rates for the disease in Ireland. However, as indicated by Senator Ross, osteoporosis is currently estimated to affect one in three women and one in five men over 50 years of age. Furthermore, loss of bone density, symptomatic of the potential to develop osteoporosis occurs with advancing age.

In addition, rates of fracture increase markedly with age thus giving significant rise to morbidity and mortality. The Department of Health and Children has supported the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the Health Service Executive in the establishment of a steering committee to oversee the development of a strategy to prevent falls and fractures in the ageing population. This committee is chaired by the HSE and it is understood that a sub-group has been established to examine the area of osteoporosis.

The IOS was established in 1996 with the overall aims of reducing the incidence of osteoporosis and promoting bone health. It provides information to the public and health professionals on all aspects of the disease and offers support to people with osteoporosis and those at risk from the disease.

The former Northern Area Health Board, and subsequently the HSE, met with the IOS in recent years to agree funding for various initiatives undertaken by the society. This resulted in grant aid of €100,000 in both 2004 and 2005, and €128,000 in 2006. A service level agreement was reached between the society and the HSE for 2007, which included the provision of €250,000 once-off funding towards the following objectives: to develop an osteoporosis and bone health lo-call telephone help line and information database; and to launch a new website to supportearlier detection and prevention of osteoporosis in the wider community through educating and informing health care professionals, co-ordinating a range of awareness campaigns at national and local level and availing of opportunities to promote osteoporosis in other generic health materials.

In the wider context, the development of services for older people continues to be a priority for the Government. This is reflected, for example, in the funding committed to the sector in budgets 2006 and 2007 where over €400 million was provided for much needed initiatives across a range of services nationally. The 2008 budget provided an additional €22 million for a range of community service developments. This includes €2 million for increased supports to voluntary groups working in partnership with the HSE.

The Health Act 2004 provides the HSE with responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services. As a statutory body, the provision of these services is a matter for the HSE, including the delivery of services by agreement with voluntary and community organisations such as the Irish Osteoporosis Society. Funding for health services has been provided as part of the executive's overall Vote for health and personal social services this year. The allocation of resources is a matter for the executive in accordance with the overall priorities for particular services, as set out in its service plan.

I am satisfied that the HSE recognises the valuable work undertaken by the Irish Osteoporosis Society and makes every effort to assist it in line with resources available. This is reflected in a practical way in the funding given to the IOS in recent years. The question of any revised funding arrangements is a matter, in the first instance, for the executive in the light of its overall competing demands and through any new agreement with the society on future service provision.