Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who have been diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia or with other forms of eating disorders in the past five years; the number of same who have required hospital treatment or psychiatric care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27119/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a study has been carried out to evaluate the Health Service Executive's responses to the issue of people affected by eating disorders, regarding services and treatment, both inpatient and outpatient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27120/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.

Figures are not available on the numbers of people over the past five years diagnosed with eating disorders and the number who required hospital treatment. The estimated annual incidence of anorexia nervosa is 10 per 100,000 population for females and 0.5 for males. All eating disorders are estimated to have an upper prevalence of 5,000 cases per 100,000 translating to approximately 200,000 in Ireland.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. The Executive, therefore, is the appropriate body to consider the particular matters raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.