Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I am taking the Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The Government welcomes the report on patterns of care and survival of cancer patients in Ireland between 1994 and 2001 which was published this week. This report, funded by the Department of Health and Children, adds significantly to our understanding of survival patterns of care for four major causes of cancer, namely, breast, colorectal, lung and prostate. This Government is making the full range of cancer services available to cancer patients throughout the country. Since 1997, approximately €1 billion has been invested in cancer services nationally. More than 100 additional consultants have been appointed in key areas of care such as medical oncology, radiology, palliative care and histopathology. An additional 343 clinical nurse specialists have been appointed in the cancer services area. Almost 94,000 patients were discharged from hospital following a diagnosis of cancer in 2005, an increase of 70% over 1997.

We have invested substantially in all regions to improve cancer survival. The improvements are evidenced in the report. It shows improvements nationally in survival rates for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers, but not lung cancers. There were improvements in all regions for breast and prostate cancers and in most areas for colorectal and lung cancers. For example, in the period 1994 to 1997, 73% of women with breast cancer survived at least five years. This figure had increased to more than 78% in the period 1998 to 2001. For colorectal cancer, the five-year survival rate for the period 1998 to 2001 in the north west increased to 53.5%, which is in excess of the national average of 51%.

We know there are regional variations in cancer survival rates, and Deputy Harkin has outlined some of those. The Government's national cancer control strategy, published last year and welcomed by stakeholders, is designed to change this fundamentally to improve outcomes for cancer patients in each region of the country. We are committed to investing significantly in the implementation of the strategy. The National Development Plan 2007-2013 includes major investment in the cancer area. We have made available an additional €20.5 million this year for cancer control, covering screening, acute services and research. This is an increase of 74% on the comparable 2006 investment and includes €3.5 million to support the initial implementation of the HSE's national cancer control programme.

The registry report confirms the importance of a national approach to improvements in cancer control. It is the intention of the Minister and the HSE to ensure patients, regardless of location, have timely access to high quality, specialised care that will lead to further improvements in cancer mortality rates. The HSE cancer control programme will manage, organise and deliver quality assured cancer services on a whole population basis, regardless of geography. The service plan for the HSE for this year sets out the detailed deliverables of the programme.

Evidence-based population screening programmes are an essential element of the strategy. On 1 January this year, the Minister established a National Cancer Screening Service Board. This amalgamated BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme, ICSP. Both BreastCheck and the ICSP will be rolled out nationally this year. The total allocation to the new service is €33 million, a 71% increase on the 2006 allocation to the programmes. The service will also advise on the implementation of a national colorectal screening programme. The findings contained in the registry report provide an essential benchmark against which we can monitor the provision of equitable cancer services. The Government is committed to continuing investment in cancer care. We will ensure that the full range of cancer services is available and accessible to cancer patients in all regions.

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