Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 240: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of research currently in hand or proposed in respect of incidence of autism and Asperger's syndrome; how this compares with other European countries; if genetic or other comparisons have been made; if the levels here are as high or higher than in other EU or non-EU countries; the initiatives she will take to address conclusions accruing from such comparisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13460/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 241: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the level of support, diagnostic or treatment support services available to parents of children with autism or Asperger's syndrome; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13461/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 242: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of diagnostic treatment or support services available to the parents of autistic children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13462/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 242, inclusive, together.

The Department of Health and Children does not collect information on children identified with Autism and Asperger's on a national or international basis. Information pertaining to diagnosis is specifically excluded from the National Intellectual Disability Database as the database is not designed as a medical epidemiological tool. Accordingly the database does not record the incidence of Autism or any other disability.

In 2004, the Department of Health and Children, through the Health Research Board, approved expenditure of €5 million on autism research to help improve international understanding of the genetic causes of autism. This €5 million is the Irish contribution to a new major international research initiative called the Autism Genome Project which will receive a total investment of €12 million from a variety of international organisations over the next three years. The other co-funders in the international consortium include Autism Speaks (US), the British Medical Research Council (CIHR), Southwest Autism Research and Resource Centre (SARRC), and the Hilibrand Foundation. This unique combination of international, public and private partners funding a consortium of clinicians and scientists is a new and welcome departure in the field of autism research. The Health Research Board has informed my Department that this funding was awarded as follows:

€2.8 million: Professor Michael Gill, Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin

€2.2 million: Professor Andrew Green, Director National Centre for Medical Genetics, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin (affiliated to UCD).

This figure represents the largest tranche of funding to be awarded by any of the four funders within the international consortium. The Irish researchers are at the forefront in unravelling the genetic determinants of autism and related disorders. They are using novel state of the art genetic sequencing technology to analyse DNA samples taken from autistic patients to identify candidate genetic markers for autism. They will collaborate with their international colleagues to then link these genetic markers with clinical outcomes. This unique international research effort will greatly improve not only our understanding of the causes of autism, but its diagnosis and treatment.

With regard to the remaining matters raised by the Deputy, these relate to the management and delivery of health and personal 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 these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.