Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to the cancer support groups in my constituency, including Ballyjamesduff Cancer Support Fund, CUAN cancer support in Cavan, and Crocus cancer support in Monaghan, and also the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge committee, which has raised over €1.2 million for cancer services and research over the past 11 years. These groups provide vital services and support for cancer patients and their families, with little or no central government funding. I commend my party colleague Deputy Cullinane for introducing this motion in the Dáil.

The current national cancer strategy was published in 2017 and has the potential to significantly improve Ireland's cancer outcomes; however, the Government has failed to properly fund the national cancer strategy in five of the past seven years, including every single year in which Simon Harris was Minister for Health. As a result, while some improvements have been made, the National Cancer Control Programme has not been able to deliver fully on its ambition. The NCCP and the HSE sought €20 million in additional funding through budget 2024 to deliver the strategy but received zero. The Government must immediately revise the health budget for 2024 and provide the funding needed to deliver the strategy. It cannot say it was unaware of the consequences of the underfunding. The National Cancer Control Programme has reported that the lack of funding will have an impact on cancer outcomes and that it no longer has confidence in the strategy's chances of improving cancer survival rates.

According to the European cancer inequalities register, Ireland has the second highest rate of cancer incidence in Europe and is ranked only mid-table of the 27 EU member states for cancer survival. It performs poorly in comparison with many other western European countries as well with regard to uptake of cancer screening programmes. Early detection and treatment are vital if we are to improve the outcomes for people with cancer. We are calling on the Government to revise the health budget for 2024, provide the funding needed to deliver the strategy, end the recruitment embargo and implement a deliverable workforce plan for the health service.

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