Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that sleep apnoea is a huge concern of morbidity in our health services; the steps her Department is taking to improve diagnosis and treatment of this condition in the patient population affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3060/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Sleep apnoea is a condition that interrupts breathing while asleep. This is usually caused by an obstruction blocking the back of the throat so that the air cannot reach the patient's lungs. The cessation of breathing automatically forces the sufferer to wake up in order to start breathing again. This can happen many times during the night, making it hard for the body to get enough oxygen, and preventing the sufferer from obtaining enough good quality sleep.

Sleep apnoea is not a notifiable or reportable disease in any of the formal reporting mechanisms or registers in Ireland but it is suggested that there may be something of the order of 4,500 to 5,000 people diagnosed with the condition. It ranges from mild to quite severe. This condition can lead to a reduction in quality of life.

Diagnosis is made by way of clinical and other examinations and comprehensive diagnosis includes examination of electrical activity in the brain, eye movements, heart rate, respiratory effort and blood oxygen levels. Treatment varies depending on the degree and severity of the illness.

The management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.