THE CHIEF executive of the Parkinson's Association of Ireland has called on the Government to give greater priority towards providing services for those who suffer from the degenerative disorder which affects some 8,000 people in the Republic.
Joe Lynch said the Health Service Executive fell way behind the level of services provided for Parkinson's sufferers in the North and elsewhere in the EU.
"Government support is critical to the organisation and this will be a key challenge over the coming year," he said.
"Services and supports are critical to the quality of life for all Parkinson's patients and sadly these are sadly lacking throughout the HSE."
Mr Lynch made his remarks at the launch of his association's strategic plan 2010-2013 in the Mansion House, Dublin, yesterday.
The Parkinson's Association of Ireland (PAI) has set out six key objectives. These include the provision of services and supports for sufferers, the development of appropriate organisational structures for the association and a greater awareness of the disorder and the PAI. The association will lobby for additional services and resources and will aim to provide a comprehensive range of supports. It will also support research on issues relating to the needs and circumstances of people with Parkinson's.
The PAI says it ranks among the least funded of the organisations in its category with an annual turnover of €150,000 and a staff complement of just 1.5 paid workers.
HSE grants issued in 2007, for example, show that the Alzheimer Society of Ireland received €8.3 million, Multiple Sclerosis Ireland got €2.9 million, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland received €1.2 million and the Migraine Association of Ireland got €193,000.
The PAI says €250,000 a year should be provided in funding to help it improve public awareness and understanding about the causes and symptoms of the disease, which causes tremor, muscular rigidity and slow movement.
Ireland also has just three Parkinson's disease nurse specialists, compared with 241 in Britain and five in Northern Ireland.
According to Mr Lynch, the State is not showing enough respect for those who suffer with Parkinson's.