Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response but, as he will appreciate, it did not quite answer the question I had. To help in this exercise, he might take note of my comments, and pass on a message to the Minister for Health, regarding my specific question. The then CEO of CHO 4 made an application to the HSE for specific funding for the running of the Cancer Connect service. We were told to await the publication of the service plan. My understanding is the service plan has been published but the detail within it has not yet been released. I ask that a message be conveyed to the Minister with a view to getting detail on the service plan and on whether Cancer Connect was successful under it.

A related service, ARC Cancer Support House in Cork, provides emotional and educational support, therapies, breast cancer services, counselling and group exercises. There is a similar story there, where an exceptional cancer support service with a base in Cork city and also in Bantry constantly has to fundraise to maintain the service. It is looking for an ongoing State contribution in order that it can keep the service going. I ask that a question be put to the interim CEO, who will be in place for the next couple of months, regarding the detail of the service plan and whether Cancer Connect and ARC house are covered.

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