Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State is aware and dealt with in her reply, this is a complicated issue. It is difficult because the condition presents in different ways but enough research has now been done to clearly show that this illness is long term and does not resolve. There are 15 different conditions recognised under the long-term illness scheme. We should be trying to take a more planned approach to this condition. The Minister of State was with me on the health committee when we dealt with this issue back in 2012 and, seven years later, we should be trying to take a more proactive and planned approach to dealing with this condition from the perspective of healthcare and through the social welfare system. I ask that this issue is reviewed by the Department of Health to see what new actions can be taken to help people with this condition. It will not go away and sufferers face many challenges, both medically and financially, and therefore we should have a more planned approach to dealing with it.