Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The former colleague of Dr. O'Reilly has taken up another post and I understand there is a locum working with Dr. O'Reilly. The matters to which he referred are being addressed by the management of Cork University Hospital. Since the implementation of the national cancer strategy some €80 million cumulative additional funding has been made available to the southern region.

An additional 11 consultants and support staff are being appointed across the region. The HSE has advised that approval has been secured in recent weeks to proceed to the next phase of the development of a €47 million oncology, cardiac and renal centre, which will include a dedicated 30-bed oncology ward. It is planned to commence construction of that centre next year.

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