Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, since October, the Minister has done a great deal of work on this, as have his departmental officials and the Department of Health. I do not want in any way to undermine the work that has been done, but I believe this is a priority. The information I have is that two linear accelerators in Dublin hospitals are not being used, while the same is true of one linear accelerator and one CT scanner at CUH. At University Hospital Galway, there is one linear accelerator, while a new CT scanner that is to be put in place there will not be used either. This is because we do not have enough radiation therapists, and anyone who is qualifying at the moment is being enticed into the private sector. We really have to act fast on this. I fully accept the Minister is doing his best as regards the places being created, but this is something we need to be able to respond to within a short timeframe.

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