Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the evidence of a geographic inequity for persons with heart disease living in western counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28913/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Since the launch of "Building Healthier Hearts" in 1999, approximately €60 million has been invested by the Government towards the implementation of the cardiovascular health strategy. This has resulted in substantial improvements in treatment and detection of heart disease both nationally and in western counties.

In the HSE western area two additional consultant cardiologist posts have been funded through the cardiovascular health strategy as well as the necessary infrastructure and facilities required to support these appointments. A chest pain clinic in University College Hospital, Galway, UCHG, has also been funded as has the employment of supporting staff providing a structured link between the primary care and hospital settings and the rapid diagnosis of angina, enabling further diagnostic tests and treatment as appropriate. Cardiac rehabilitation is now available in UCHG and Mayo General Hospital.

As a result of the investment through the cardiovascular health strategy there has been a considerable increase in the number of certain coronary procedures in the HSE western area. For example, the figures for coronary arteriography in 1996 were 3.7 per 10,000 population compared with a national average of 16.5. The corresponding figure for 2004 was 26.5, compared to a national average of 25.7. There have been similar increases in other cardiac interventions.