Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:784. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether a national diabetes registry exists in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47464/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 June 2026
Ceisteanna (784, 785, 786, 787)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:785. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health given the absence of a national diabetes registry in the State, the data source and jurisdiction on which her Department and the Health Service Executive base their estimate of diabetes prevalence; whether that estimate is derived by applying a diabetes prevalence rate recorded in another jurisdiction to the population of the State; the most recent year for which such an estimate has been produced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47466/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:786. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the most recent estimate held by her Department or the Health Service Executive of the number of people living with diabetes in the State, distinguishing between type 1 and type 2 diabetes; the year and data source on which that estimate is based; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47467/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:787. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the implications of the absence of a national diabetes registry for the planning and resourcing of diabetes services; whether there are plans to establish such a registry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47468/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 784, 785, 786 and 787 together.
The https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/a41e7d5d/Diabetes_Policy_and_Services_Review_-_A_Strategy_for_Better_Care.pdf, published in May this year, details the current estimates for diabetes prevalence in Ireland.
In the absence of a National Diabetes Registry, it is not possible to accurately determine overall diabetes prevalence in Ireland. National diabetes prevalence figures used in the development of the Diabetes Policy and Services Review were estimated by applying the Scottish diabetes prevalence rate of 6% to the Irish population.
Based on the 2022 CSO population data, it is estimated that 308,000 people in Ireland are living with diabetes. Of these, approximately 273,000 have type 2 diabetes (90% of all diabetes diagnosis), and approximately 20,000-30,000 adults have type 1 diabetes.
The Irish Childhood Diabetes National Register (ICDNR), established in 2008, captures incidence data on children under the age of 15 with new-onset type 1 diabetes. Almost 4,800 young people were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before the age of 15 and have been registered with the ICDNR since its launch. According to the register, the incidence of type 1 diabetes in Ireland is 37.6 cases per 100,000 population per year.
Other less common classifications of diabetes (e.g. Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young) account for a small proportion of the total population living with diabetes.
Progress has been made toward establishing a National Diabetes Registry. In 2025, a multidisciplinary team consisting of a Clinical lead, a programme manager, administrator and a data analyst was appointed to scope out and develop a National Diabetes Registry (NDR) in Ireland.
A multi-stakeholder NDR working group has been established with input from clinicians, technology and transformation, patient advocate association & data controllers. Governance structures are being established within the Population/Public Health division of the HSE.
The NDR is being developed in a multi-annual phased approach, with the initial focus on identifying the true prevalence of diabetes in Ireland. When established, the NDR will support clinicians and the health system to improve decision making for better patient care.
Question No. 785 answered with Question No. 784.