Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number of epilepsy sufferers here, by county, age and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45914/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Since epilepsy is not covered by registration or notification, the detailed data on prevalence by county, age and gender requested by the Deputy is not available. National data on epilepsy is available from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) Health Module. This was undertaken most recently in Quarter 3, 2010. The QNHS Health Module is a self-reported survey based on a sample of 15,673 persons over the age of 17. Respondents are asked if they have ever been diagnosed with epilepsy. The results, when grossed up to the national population, provide an estimate of approximately 16,000 persons over the age of 17 in Ireland having been diagnosed with epilepsy. This is broadly in line with international studies on the epidemiology of epilepsy. This survey-based figure, nevertheless, needs to be interpreted with caution both because it is based on self-reporting rather than definitive diagnosis and because it is based on small numbers (i.e. less than 1% of the sample). The small numbers preclude reliable breakdown of figures below the national level.