Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Cullinane brought this motion forward because cancer services are not being properly funded. The Government has absolutely failed to fund the cancer strategy for five of the past seven years. As has already been said, we are dealing with expensive lifesaving equipment lying idle due to staff shortages. Cancer surgeries are being cancelled because of hospital overcrowding. It has been stated explicitly that the Government must fund this strategy, end the recruitment embargo and fund the 1,500 beds, but like many of my colleagues, I do not see any of this happening until there is a change of Government and a Government that is up for business.

The issue I will bring up with the Minister of State is an issue that blew up on Joe Duffy's radio programme and in the House, down to the work of Alison McCabe of Breastcare by Alison. It relates to post-mastectomy products and the fact that the HSE was considering halving the funding for them at one stage.

In fairness, it is one of the few times I saw this place operate to some degree. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, got up and said that this was not going to happen, and he made a number of promises. I want the Minister of State to come back to me with regard to the review process. I want to make sure that people like Alison are involved in that particular review. I have been in contact with them. I was very lucky to be able to visit where she does absolutely great work for women who have been through mastectomies and who have dealt with huge pain that has been caused by cancer. We need to make sure this review is absolutely patient focused and that there is input from patients, and that we do not have any of the changes with regard to the application process that would put it back on those particular patients. We need to make sure that service providers, such as consultants, breast care nurses and mastectomy fitting professionals like Alison, are all happy to engage in this. We need that information and we need to make sure it happens, and that funding goes up.

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