Charity calls for €1m a year investment for patients with 'butterfly disease'

Emma Forgarty, Debra Ireland patient representative, speaking at the launch of the charity's pre-Budget submission. Picture: Robbie Reynolds.

The Government must invest €1m per year to meet the needs of patients with a rare skin disease, says a charity advocating for sufferers of the agonising condition.

In its pre-budget submission to TDs on Thursday morning, Debra Ireland called for a Government investment of €941,000 annually in home care, outreach care and mental health supports for sufferers of severe epidermolysis bullosa (EB).