Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of new patients treated at the oncology unit at Cork University Hospital in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9506/05]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that an oncologist at Cork University Hospital recently tendered his resignation due to the lack of resources at Cork University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9504/05]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the delays in treatment at the oncology unit at Cork University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9507/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that there is only one permanent oncologist at Cork University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9503/05]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she proposes to take to improve cancer services in Cork and Kerry, following the resignation of an oncologist in Cork due to the failure of her Department to provide the necessary funding to create a dedicated cancer ward within Cork University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9383/05]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself that the level of services for cancer treatment at Cork University Hospital is acceptable in light of the fact that numerous reports are considering centralising cancer treatment in the south at this hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9505/05]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on the delivery of chemotherapy, oncology and radiation oncology at Cork University Hospital following the recent resignation of a consultant at the hospital. [9511/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the oncology ward for Cork University Hospital is due to open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9502/05]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 114: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the resignation of a consultant oncologist from the staff of Cork University Hospital, ostensibly due to the failure to establish a dedicated cancer ward at the hospital; and if she has satisfied herself that cancer care facilities in the southern region are properly resourced. [9437/05]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the recent resignation of a cancer specialist at Cork University Hospital (details supplied) due to the lack of a dedicated ward for cancer patients and the generally inadequate facilities; the steps being taken to deal with this situation and to avert the loss of such specialists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9420/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 13, 18, 67, 79, 89, 108, 110, 114, and 118 together.

Mobility of key personnel is a regular feature of the hospital system as demonstrated by the ease with which medical staff transfer from prestigious hospitals abroad to take up positions in Ireland. It is also the case that medical consultants in various oncology disciplines, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery and haematology, transfer within our hospital system. Many of these transfers take place for a combination of professional, career and personal reasons. In regard to the transfer of the medical oncologist referred to by the Deputies, it is important to acknowledge that the hospital system here has retained his particular expertise for the cure and care of cancer patients.

Considerable investment has been made in the development of cancer services in the southern region in recent years. Since 1997, additional cumulative funding of approximately €76 million has been allocated for the development of appropriate treatment and care services for people with cancer in the region. Cumulative additional funding of approximately €6.5 million has been made available for the development of breast disease services in the region during the period 2001-04. This funding has provided for the recruitment of an additional 11 consultants in key areas of cancer care. The funding has also provided for the appointment of 27 cancer care nurses.

Capital funding of over €4 million has been provided for the development of radiation oncology services at Cork University Hospital and ongoing revenue funding of €3 million is being provided to cater for the expansion of this service. As regards the development of a dedicated oncology ward, the Health Service Executive has advised that this is a priority.

Provisional figures supplied by the Health Service Executive indicate that in 2004 approximately 950 new patients in total were referred to medical oncology services in the region's four main hospitals. This number increases to 3,106 when radiation oncology and haematology service figures are included. I am advised that there are no delays for chemotherapy and haematology services at Cork University Hospital. My Department has asked the chief officer for the executive's southern area to supply to the Deputies a more detailed response to the issues raised, including recruitment of replacement staff.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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There will be a significant increase in the number of patients requiring treatment for cancer in the south. Does the Tánaiste consider it medically safe that there is only one permanent oncologist in Cork University Hospital and that there is no dedicated medical oncology ward in this hospital, which is providing cancer services in not only the second largest city in Ireland but in the whole of the south? There is no BreastCheck service and no development on the BreastCheck programme in Cork. The Tánaiste is aware of the international trading centre site. I believe there is also a problem in regard to what Hanly had promoted in his report.

There is a move to centralise much of the cancer treatment services in terms of breast cancer and other forms of cancer into the Cork University Hospital site, yet it currently has no dedicated oncology unit and only one permanent oncologist. The only reason chemotherapy is provided on time at present is that the staff are working flat out in the hospital. Is this medically safe? Is it the right way to proceed in an area with a large population where one would expect a higher level of expertise? Cork University Hospital provides a service in the southern part of the country not only to Cork and Kerry but also to Limerick, south Tipperary and Waterford. Patients from Wexford are even expected to travel to this hospital.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Not only is there a delay in the roll-out of the BreastCheck programme but the Tánaiste should be aware of the uncertainty of the future of the children's leukaemia unit at the Mercy University Hospital. These things taken together mean that cancer treatment in the Cork city area and the Cork and Kerry regions is facing a most uncertain future. Will the Tánaiste use the opportunity of her reply to provide some clarity and reassurance on this matter? It would help patients in this area who fear that the quality of their services is being eroded on a daily basis.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The whole intention is to improve the quality of services at regional level. In the case of the dedicated oncology ward, we need such a facility at Cork University Hospital. It is intended that a dedicated oncology ward will be provided when the new day ward is opened. I hope that will happen soon.

A replacement consultant will be sought as quickly as possible. In regard to BreastCheck, I will announce the whole capital programme together rather than in a piecemeal way. It is a priority to roll out BreastCheck in both Cork and Galway. It has been a highly successful programme. We aim to meet the target date of having it in place in 2007.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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What about the leukaemia unit?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I will come back to the Deputy on that. I am having inquiries made.