Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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679. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the implementation of the National Clinical Programme for Asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29085/15]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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687. To ask the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive National Clinical Programme for Asthma will be implemented, in view of it being officially adopted by the Health Service Executive four years ago; if Phase 1, prioritising the spending of just €2.5 million in primary care for, will be funded in the upcoming budget for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29131/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 687 together.

Asthma remains a significant challenge for the health services. The new contract with General Practitioners for children under six years of age includes for the first time in Primary Care the provision of a cycle of care for child patients with asthma. The National Clinical Programme for Asthma (NCPA) and the Asthma Society of Ireland have welcomed the introduction of this first step in the provision of a comprehensive programme for asthma across primary and secondary care. The cycle of care includes key actions such as checking inhaler technique, provision of a written asthma action plan, review of asthma medications and recording of smoking status of the home.

A key focus for the National Clinical Programme for Asthma this year has been the two Asthma Integrated Care Demonstrator Projects. Funding for these projects commenced from June in the HSE Primary Care Service Plan 2015. The process for recruiting the clinical care staff is underway with expected commencement in October 2015. These projects will facilitate the implementation of the cycle of care and demonstrate how care can be integrated for Asthma between Primary and Secondary Care. This Integrated Asthma Care will be delivered by a community based Clinical Nurse Specialist (Respiratory - Integrated Care). These projects will be further extended in 2016 so that the needs of asthma patients can be further addressed.

The NCPA has made significant progress since its establishment which to date includes:

- The development of asthma guidelines in acute and chronic management, care pathways, treatment protocols and care bundles for use in all care settings (primary and secondary care levels), in conjunction with National Emergency Medicine, Acute Medicine, COPD, Critical Care, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatric programmes and Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP);

- The development of a Model of Care for Asthma (MOCA) approved by the Leadership in HSE and planned for launch in 2015;

- The development and implementation in conjunction with the Asthma Society of Ireland, of asthma education programmes for healthcare professionals to underpin the guidelines implementation;

- The planning of a structured Asthma Programme at Primary Care level in conjunction with ICGP and Primary Care programme to ensure implementation of evidenced based chronic asthma management guidelines and asthma care;

- Supporting the work of the Asthma Society of Ireland in patient asthma education supports initiatives.

As outlined above, the components of the programme are being implemented on an ongoing basis. When the Model of Care is launched later this year, it will be up to the relevant operational divisions within the HSE to implement the programme.