Parkinson's disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in Ireland. Unfortunately, people are without supports in many counties. In my own county of Offaly, there is no neurologist, specialist nurse or team and people have to travel. It really shocked me that the HSE responded to a recent parliamentary question by telling me it has no idea of the number of people living with Parkinson's disease in County Offaly. I find that very concerning because if it does not know the level of need, how can it measure the level of need or put services in place? This greatly concerns me. I ask the Government to urgently intervene with the HSE in terms of the data blindness - it is just unbelievable that no data is collected per county - and the lack of neurological services in county Offaly. We really should have a neurologist in our hospital in Tullamore along with a specialist nursing team.

While I am not aware of how information is gathered or whether it is held at a national level as opposed to a county level, I will ask the Minister to come back directly to Deputy Nolan to relay whether this is a practice that happens or does not happen at the county level, in particular, or at national level, or if there are plans to do this.