Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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372. To ask the Minister for Health the amount he invests in the research of myalgic encephalomyelitis-chronic fatigue syndrome; his plans to provide an increased investment in research; if so, when and the amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16802/16]

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Health Research Board is the statutory agency under the aegis of my Department responsible for supporting and funding health research, information and evidence. It funds research in all areas including clinical, population health and health services research. All applications received are peer reviewed by international experts and recommendations are made for funding based on a number of parameters; these include excellence, originality, track record of research team, relevance and potential impact.

The Health Research Board has advised my department that it has no record in the last number of years of funding research of the type referred to by the deputy; the one application related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that it received in this time was not successful in obtaining funding following peer review. The board has also emphasised that the provenance of any proposal for a research topic is the researcher concerned; and that it would welcome applications from any disease area - including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.