Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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111. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of anti-malaria drugs prescribed to Irish troops operating in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, by number of troops for each drug. [27759/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, malaria is a very serious disease. It kills approximately 1 million people per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. It is a grave threat to any military force operating in that area. Currently Defence Forces personnel are operating in the following locations in sub-Saharan Africa; Western Sahara, Mali, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire and Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are three anti-malarial drugs, all licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), formerly the Irish Medicines Board, in use by the Defence Forces namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The choice of medication is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces. As the Deputy will be aware, the HPRA is the statutory authority with responsibility for quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Ireland. The Defence Forces policy, in relation to the use of anti-malaria medication is in line with current HPRA approved summary of product characteristics (SmPC).

Unfortunately it has not proved possible to compile the full information in response to this question in the time available. I will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand.