John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the increase in asthma rates in the past 10 years; the cost of asthma treatment to the State; the steps she has taken to deal with the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40941/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department is aware in recent years of an increase in the frequency of asthma. The level of asthma depends on the age group and, in Ireland, has risen to approximately 20% in young teenagers. However, as asthma is not a notifiable illness information regarding its incidence in the general population is not systematically collected by my Department as if it were notifiable.

There is no single figure relating to cost of asthma treatment. There are a variety of risk factors for asthma and, in recognition of the environmental and genetic factors that contribute to asthma, Ireland has been involved in a number of initiatives on asthma. Ireland has supported the European Union's Joint Research Council initiative on childhood asthma and co-ordinated an EU approach under the Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2004. Ireland has also participated in international prevalence studies on asthma and there is ongoing work on the development of information systems on asthma.

In recent years, the Health Research Board has funded a number of proposals relating to asthma and respiratory disease. Legislation on smoking at work has also provided greater protection from toxic tobacco smoke which contributes to asthma. My Department has also raised the issue of asthma in discussions with the HSE in the context of their service plan for chronic disease programmes.