574. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the current diagnosis and treatment facilities available here for Lyme disease; if there is a national strategy in relation to Lyme disease; if an awareness campaign to highlight symptoms of the disease will be pursued by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53935/13]

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre is establishing a Lyme Borreliosis Group whose aim will be to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention measures in order to minimise the harm caused by Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland based on best international evidence. The remit of the Group will also include raising awareness amongst both clinicians and the general public and exploring ways in which to improve surveillance of neuroborreliosis in Ireland.

A joint Consensus Statement on the Clinical Management of Lyme Borreliosis was produced in November 2012 by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland, the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists, the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and the Irish College of General Practitioners. This Consensus Statement was produced in order to ensure that the management of Lyme Borreliosis is as consistent and as standardised as possible. The Consensus Statement lays out the optimal conditions on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland.