Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is important that we end on that note. I started off the session talking about the 215,000 people who are alive today following a diagnosis of cancer. That is the positive message out there. We focus in on the challenges within the system itself but there are many things which are working for people and I would again encourage anyone who has any concerns about their health to go and get tested. For those who have the opportunity to go for screening, they should take up that opportunity.

Both of these sessions were very useful. If someone at home has worries and if this prompts them to go and seek help, then this has been a worthwhile session today. We have also been able to focus in on many of the challenges within the system itself. I have no doubt that as a committee we will follow up on some of these. It is worrying that the HSE has applied for the €20 million expansion funding for the programme and that it was not available. As politicians, we need to follow that up with the Minister.

I thank all the witnesses for their support here this morning. I thank Dr. Henry and his colleagues from the HSE for their engagement with the committee on the important matter of the funding and implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. The committee will continue to keep this matter under consideration.