Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, at the Irish Cancer Society's annual Charles Cully Lecture the worryingly high rate of cancer incidence and death in poor communities across Ireland was highlighted in a discussion on health and wealth, the cancer gap. Death rates in some areas, notably some of the poorest parts of the Dublin region, are more than twice as high as rates in more affluent areas. Cancer death rates in Dublin between 2009 and 2011 combined varied from 381 per 100,000 in Blakestown north west; 310 per 100,000 in Blanchardstown north; 265 per 100,000 in Ballymun east; 141 per 100,000 in Foxrock and Cabinteely south west; 138 per 100,000 in Malahide east; and 128 per 100,000 in Castleknock south east. It is clear that the more deprived the area, the higher the risk of a person developing cancer and dying from the disease. People in areas of most disadvantage are twice as likely to die from cancer as those in the most affluent areas.

As well as this, often the poorest in society have the greatest difficulties in accessing health care. As well as dying younger, they develop multiple illnesses at an earlier age. In some deprived Dublin areas, there are not enough primary care resources, for instance, in north Dublin there is one general practitioner, GP, for every 2,500 people. Nationally, this figure is 1:1600.

The cancer strategies implemented by governments over the past 20 years have been successful in many ways. I know that the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has appointed a team of three international experts to evaluate Ireland's current national cancer strategy and to provide advice for the next one. In doing so, he said that the main challenges facing Ireland during the ten year period of a new strategy are likely to be minimising the increase in cancer numbers, bringing services for cancer treatment to a par with the top international performers and maximising holistic recovery among cancer patients.

I ask the Minister to bear in mind that the Irish Cancer Society has suggested that the next strategy should give specific priority to the need to combat cancer in the poorest sections of our society.

I represent the constituency of Cork North-Central, which has some areas of high socio-economic deprivation. The basic elements of housing, education and other support services are under stress and pressure and there is no point in saying otherwise. That is just an observation, as opposed to a political point. This aspect of the issue of health, which is a key concern of mine, has been highlighted by the Irish Cancer Society. Given his background and the constituency he represents, I know the Minister of State will be aware of this as well. Regardless of what we do in terms of resources, the least we should do is ensure the cancer strategy that is applied in the years ahead contains a strong commitment to social justice in the context of providing adequate health care in the areas under discussion. A strong strategy is needed to address the underlying causes of the poor health outcomes of many people in such areas.

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