Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Does the Taoiseach have any idea why chemotherapy is likely to be used in three times as many cases in the west for prostate cancer as it is in the east? In January of this year we learnt that the national plan for radiation oncology services, announced by the Government in 2005, was completely hollow and shallow because it had not been thought out by the Government in this first instance. We should remember that the targets set out in that plan were described by senior officials of the HSE, responsible for the programme as not being achievable. Does this not make a mockery of the Government's strategy for a world class health service in the area of cancer treatment services? The issues identified by those officials indicates that the plan was not thought out and that the words of the Government in respect of it were hollow. While cancer can strike any person, it is difficult when people such as the couple I spoke to yesterday say "Why has the Government let us down in this region in terms of the availability of services?" Arising from this report, does the Taoiseach believe it is right or fair that a person's address indicates the place in his or her lottery for life as a result of the Government's inadequacy in the provision of cancer services?

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