Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that newly diagnosed diabetic patients can wait up to two years before they see a specialist doctor; her proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17540/07]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that 250,000 people here have impaired glucose tolerance, pre-diabetes, of which 50% will develop diabetes in the next five years if lifestyle changes are not made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17541/07]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the estimated €370,000 spent on prevention which is less that 1% of the estimated €580 million spent on diabetes treatment here in 2006 is inadequate; her proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17542/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 to 331, inclusive, together.

An Expert Advisory Group on Diabetes was recently established by the HSE and is currently drawing up standards of care for diabetes. This process will take account of the Department of Health and Children's document "Diabetes: Prevention and Model for Patient Care". The group has identified as one of its priorities the development of an Integrated Care Model for the treatment of Diabetes. This model will focus on the joint participation of hospital consultants and general practitioners in the planned delivery of care for patients. The Expert Advisory Group has also identified the other areas of diabetes care that need priority attention such as retinopathy screening, pediatric diabetes, patient education and empowerment, and podiatry. It should be noted that the diabetic retinopathy screening to prevent eye diseases in diabetes sufferers is currently being rolled out in the Western region and in North Dublin.

In addition my Department and the HSE are currently finalising a series of measures to manage the health impacts of chronic disease generally in the population. These measures include:—

The development of a comprehensive, integrated chronic disease policy framework which will view chronic disease as a continuum with "upstream" action on the avoidable cause of disease, disability and premature death (including in particular inter-sectoral action to address the wider determinants of health) as well as "downstream" action to improve the health and quality of life of those already suffering from the condition;

Comprehensive patient registration systems;

The development of shared care models for each condition under a disease management programme;

The development and use of evidence-based clinical guidelines for each condition;

A Self-Care Management Programme; and

Quality assurance and evaluation Protocols.

In Budget 2007, €4 million was approved for the funding of Chronic diseases and an additional €1 million to be given in 2008. This funding includes the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

The remaining issues raised in the Deputy's questions relate to the funding, 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.