James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday I attended the launch of the Asthma Society of Ireland's prebudget submission. The society has issued a small booklet which contains some startling information. Some 470,000 people in Ireland suffer from asthma, including one in five children. One person dies every week as a result of asthma. Many of these deaths are preventable. The society has asked for a number of things, two of which could be done without huge expense. One is that every education facility, at third, second and, in particular, primary level, as well as Montessori schools, have available an inhaler and a spacer device which is just a plastic tube in order that when a child gets into trouble and has forgotten his or her inhaler which can happen as we are all human, he or she will not end up in extremis. It is very cheap medication and a little foresight, alongside the campaign the Asthma Society of Ireland is running, could prevent illness and perhaps even save a few lives. The society also calls for an annual check-up for everybody with asthma, to be free at the point of delivery. It would keep people well. There is no doubt that a lot of people do not know how to use their inhaler and studies have shown that some doctors do not know how to use them either. We need regular reinforcement of what to do and how to do it. There is excellent information on the website of the Asthma Society of Ireland. Asthma is so common that teachers must know how to use these things and people should never be afraid to help a child with asthma. It is not like the EpiPen; it is a simple device. I appeal to all schools to have one available.