Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In reply to Deputy Kenny, we are preparing a cervical screening programme which will start later this year. It was not the case that we have not got a programme. There was no programme a few years ago. As regards the staff involved now, there are 110 new specialist posts in cancer treatment, giving 300 new cancer specialist posts. There is a cancer control strategy. It is neither reasonable nor fair to say that in this area we have not put in an enormous amount of resources. There are cases, such as the one we saw a few weeks ago that was highlighted by RTE, where I accept somebody had not been seen for months. I have not seen the full facts as regards the case, but that should not happen. It will be interesting to follow it through, but I have not seen the full details. However, we put in the screening processes and we are rolling them out. We have improved services and massively reduced waiting lists. I am not going to do a bed count as regards the Mater or any other hospital, but we are genuinely and honestly putting the resources in and we shall continue to do that. It is not all finished. The final date was 2011, and I accept that. However, we have improved the services dramatically for diagnostic work, radiotherapy — which is not fully completed, I admit, but the programme is in place — and elective work. Matters have improved dramatically. I come across people on waiting lists too. However, services, which were never in place hitherto have been resourced and enhanced around the country.

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