Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments of my colleague, Senator Dolan. I concur with comments made with regard to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. I was unable to make its briefing today but I met representatives of the association with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, some weeks ago in Longford. I praise the work the organisation does. Any financial support it gets is most welcome and makes a major difference for many families.

I will speak on another issue that has been brought to my attention. I do so on behalf of a family I know personally. Every year in Ireland, an average of six children are born with spinal muscular atrophy. Children born with this condition may never walk and if left untreated, 95% of children with the severest form will not live past 24 months. The HSE has accepted that spinal muscular atrophy should be treated and every year considerable resources are being put into treating people who have it. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of the condition do not manifest until children are 12 months old.

The simple and low-cost solution to this is the heel-prick test, which we all remember. I can still remember bringing each of my three children in for the test. If spinal muscular atrophy could be added to this blood test, we would know straight away whether a child has this condition. It could be treated straight away and we would not have children who are unable able to walk or do not live beyond 24 months. The total cost of the proposal, based on an average figure of 60,000 children born in the country per year, would be €300,000.

The heel-prick test was not available for the family that I know but if it was in place for all families going forward, it would mean the treatment, which is recognised and funded by the HSE, could be administered earlier and children would not pass away or be in a position that they cannot walk. I ask that this proposal be put to the Minister for Health for consideration as part of the budget. Funding of €300,000 per year is a very small price to ask.