Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses very much for their presentation, and for all of the work they and their organisation are doing in highlighting issues. I will open on the numbers requiring care and treatment. With the increase in population of over 40% in 23 years, have we increased capacity? I am not saying we are going to have a 40% rise in cancer cases but if you have an increase in population, you will have an increase. Have we done any work on increasing capacity? That is my first question.

Second, I am very familiar with the whole issue of radiation therapists, where I understand there are four linear scanners lying idle at the moment because we do not have radiation therapists. I have been dealing with the Minister on this with regard to increasing the number of people in training but that will not resolve the issue here and now. How do the witnesses think something like that can be dealt with, where key staff are not available? Ms Power referred earlier in her presentation to the delays in getting access to radiation or treatment. Is there a way we can fast-track access to treatment if there is a difficulty around staff?