Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if work has commenced on an action plan for rare diseases; if a lead person has been identified in her Department to develop such a plan; if and when consultation will take place with representatives of patients who have been diagnosed with a rare disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37236/10]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Government will honour its commitment to introduce the European Council recommendation that called on national Governments to develop and implement strategies for the treatment and care of persons living with rare diseases. [37404/10]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to produce a national strategy for rare diseases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37405/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 281 and 282 together.

The 2009 EU Council Recommendations on Rare Diseases was supported by Ireland and this calls for Member States to establish national plans for rare diseases before the end of 2013. The European Commission is supporting the Europlan Project which aims to assist countries in the development of their national plans. A Europlan national conference in Ireland has been organised for December 2010 and this will involve relevant stakeholders as well as the Department of Health and Children and the HSE. This conference will contribute to the consultative process in the development of a rare disease strategy. The Department will also contribute to the work of the EU Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases which is scheduled to commence before the end of the year. Preliminary work has commenced on the development of a national action plan and this will continue in 2011.