Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy. The Government is obviously committed to improving cancer care generally. As the Deputy is aware, a total of €105 million has been invested in the strategy since 2017, including €23 million in budget 2025.

Under the national plan for radiation oncology, state-of-the-art radiation oncology centres have opened in Cork and Galway in 2019 and 2023, respectively, which was €120 million capital investment. In Dublin, the St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, which includes St. James's and Beaumont Hospitals, were developed under phase 1 of the national plan in 2010. The design of the phase 1 facilities made provision for future expansion for phase 2, is now under way at Beaumont Hospital as a priority.

On staffing, I wish to acknowledge the incredibly important role of radiation therapists in the provision of cancer services in this country. There are currently 220 radiation therapists in Ireland, an increase of over 20% since 2020. While recruitment for radiation therapists is challenging globally, radiation therapist staffing vacancies in the HSE have improved from 30% in 2024 to about 15% to 22% at present. It is not fully staffed but it is going in the right direction, notwithstanding a challenging global environment.

There are currently 40 radiation therapy student places available annually across Trinity College, Dublin and University College, Cork. In the last six years, the radiation therapy training programme has grown by 32% and more than 20 additional specialty training posts have been established in the last three years. The national radiation therapist review, completed in 2024, provides a strategic review of the profession in Ireland and recommendations are being progressed by the HSE. The review recommended the development of new advanced practice radiation therapist roles and those posts are expected to be advertised in the coming weeks. To maintain improvements, NSP 2025 included 5.5 radiation therapy posts and six advanced practice radiation therapists.

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