Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons suffering from respiratory conditions here; the research undertaken to identify the cause or causes of the exceptionally high level here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7262/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Figures on the prevalence of respiratory conditions in Ireland are not routinely available. The reason for this is that these conditions cover a very wide range of diagnoses from minor to acute or chronic disease which are not generally notifiable or covered by specific disease registries. In Quarter 3 of 2007, the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) conducted by the Central Statistics Office included a health questionnaire which asked respondents about previously diagnosed medical conditions. Asthma and bronchitis were included in the list of conditions with a reported prevalence of 6% and 2% respectively.

Data from the World Health Organisation indicates that rates of decline in mortality from respiratory conditions in Ireland have been very rapid, particularly in the last 10 years, and that the gap with our EU counterparts has closed significantly over this period. Premature mortality (age less than 65 years) from respiratory disease is now at the EU average having been 20% higher a decade ago. Mortality for those over the age of 65 is 80% higher than the EU average, but here too the gap has narrowed. Overall, respiratory conditions remain a very significant cause of chronic illness and of mortality in Ireland.

There are a variety of risk factors contributing to respiratory disease. However, research demonstrates that smoking prevention and cessation is the single most effective way to reduce respiratory diseases and slow their progression. Considerable progress is being made which can be attributed to a variety of causes including improved medical treatment and better environmental and lifestyle factors such as reduction in smoking. A number of measures have been taken to prevent smoking including the workplace smoking ban, taxation measures, written health warnings on tobacco products and restrictions on the display of tobacco products in the retail sector.

As part of its work in the 2010 Service Plan, the HSE has committed to developing a chronic disease management programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The HSE is also currently developing an asthma management programme which involves shared care of asthma between Primary Care and the acute sector and is focused on preventing asthma and its complications.

Lung cancer is a major cause of mortality and there are approximately 1,800 cases of lung cancer diagnosed and around 1,600 deaths from the disease each year. Comparison with other jurisdictions shows that advanced stage of disease at presentation is more common in Ireland which leads to poorer outcomes for patients. In order to address this problem the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme is establishing Rapid Access Diagnostic Clinics for lung cancer in each of the eight designated cancer centres. Four clinics have already been established and the remaining four will open by the middle of this year.