John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to establish a National Diabetes Register. [27275/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 55: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will make a commitment to establishing a National Diabetes Strategy. [27276/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 57: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the estimated figure and percentage of national health expenditure that is spent on diabetes care and care of diabetes related illness. [27278/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on diabetes services in Cork, recent improvements and planned improvements in the next six months. [27569/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department collected data on regional disparities in diabetes services; and the information that this shows. [27570/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 55, 57, 112 and 113 together.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, 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.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the measures that she is taking to slow the growth in type two diabetes. [27277/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of all cases and affects mainly middle aged or older people. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing due to a number of factors including the aging population and lifestyle factors such as obesity. It is estimated that there are approximately 140,000 people with diabetes in Ireland. The majority of patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes, receive their care in the primary care setting. In this setting, there are obvious benefits of convenience, continuity of care and immediate access.

Diabetes has been acknowledged as a priority issue and the 2006 HSE Service Plan has identified that current policy guidelines will be translated into specific action plans with the initial focus on the development of a national diabetes service framework. The Department of Health and Children is currently implementing a number of strategies, the health promotion aspect of which is of direct benefit to diabetics. These strategies include the Cardiovascular Health Strategy, the Health Promotion Strategy and more recently the Obesity Strategy. The HSE is treating the matter as a priority. It is currently considering the report of the National Diabetes Working Group and is putting in place a structure to implement its recommendations.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 58: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of major incidents that have been declared in hospitals between 30 June 2005 and 30 June 2006; and the reasons for same, in each case. [27279/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, 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.