David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. It has come to my attention that a positron emission tomography, PET, scanner located in Cork is not operational. In addition, I understand that only one such publicly-owned scanner, located in St. James's Hospital, Dublin, is in operation in the State. The cost of installing this scanner in Cork was €3.8 million and I am informed the overall cost of the centre there was €6.8 million. Although the machine was installed at a cost of millions of euro, it is not in operation and other issues arise in this regard. I am informed that nationally, a total of 5,551 PET scans were carried out in the eight months from January to August 2010, only 199 of which came from the southern region. It appears as though people may not be getting this service because they are obliged to travel to Dublin to avail of it. Last year, it cost €1 million for people from the south to travel to Dublin to undergo scans, even though the aforementioned machine is sitting idle in Cork. People are obliged to travel to Dublin at their own expense and I am sure the Minister of State realises that people who are obliged to do this may have cancer or may be quite ill and that this is stressful, time-consuming and expensive.

Why has this machine and its associated centre been sitting idle in Cork for so long at great expense to the State? Why are people being forced to travel to Dublin for scans? How many people are waiting for scans within the HSE at present and for how long? Why is the scanner located in St. James's Hospital in operation while the one located in Cork is not? What staff are needed to make the PET scanner operational and how much would it cost to employ them? One should bear in mind that €6.8 million already has been spent in an unused investment, which surely constitutes a waste. I understand that Cork University Hospital, CUH, applied for a radiologist post in May 2009. What is the position with regard to that post? Has it been funded or approved? As I stated, the cost to HSE south for scans in Dublin for 2008, 2009 and the first eight months of 2010 has been more than €1 million, even though a machine is available in Cork. Moreover, I presume that more money has been spent subsequently.

This is a serious issue. The CUH is the cancer centre of excellence for the south of Ireland and it would make sense - I am sure it is Government policy - to have this PET scanner up and running. I realise the Minister of State probably has to hand a pre-prepared script that he is about to read out and that he probably is unable to answer any of the questions I have asked. However, I ask him to revert to me privately with the answers at some point. This exemplifies the farce that is the Adjournment debate. One cannot have a proper debate even though Members have tried to effect changes and reform but nothing at all has happened. I am glad that a senior Minister is present in the Chamber to hear this point. However, this is a serious life and death issue to which people in the south seek answers, as do the medical staff, those who are suffering from cancer and the taxpayers who have spent €6.8 million to date for a facility that is lying idle. When will this centre become operational and when can the investment be put to work for the people? When will the patients in that region have the use of this important facility?

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I again apologise that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, cannot be present to take this Adjournment matter, which I will take on her behalf. PET-CT scanning is one of a number of sophisticated diagnostic tools used in acute hospital settings in the diagnosis and management of disease. In 2006, the HSE decided to procure a PET-CT scanner for Cork University Hospital, CUH. As the Deputy is aware, construction of the new facility and installation of the scanner was completed in 2009. The Government has made clear that a critical part of its strategy to restore the public finances is to achieve sustainability in the cost of delivering public services relative to State revenues. To help achieve this goal, it will be necessary to restructure and reorganise the public service and to reduce public service numbers over the coming years. This requires that the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the health service will continue to apply until the numbers have fallen to the level set out in the employment control framework for the health sector. The framework gives effect to the Government decision on employment policy in the public sector and provides that there will be a net reduction in employment. This includes a target reduction in numbers of 1,520 in 2010 and consequential payroll savings. There is provision in the HSE's employment control framework for some exemptions and exceptions, such as medical consultants and certain diagnostic support staff. However, these are limited, because of the need to achieve the required payroll savings. Health employment levels are monitored by the joint employment control monitoring committee, comprising officials from Departments of Health and Children and Finance and the HSE.

With regard to Cork, I am pleased to confirm to Deputy Stanton that funding has been provided for a consultant radiologist with a special interest in PET-CT and this post will be considered by the HSE's consultant appointments advisory committee at its November meeting. As the recruitment and appointment of a permanent consultant can take several months, it is intended to fill the post in a temporary capacity until a permanent appointment can be made.

In addition, the recruitment process for a number of critical support staff will commence in January 2011.

Accordingly, it is intended to proceed with the PET/CT service at Cork University Hospital early in the new year. In the transitional period before the PET/CT in the hospital becomes operational, patients will continue to travel to St. James's Hospital or the Mater Hospital in Dublin, with which the HSE has service level agreements for provision of PET/CT services. In 2009, a total of 108 patients from the Cork and Kerry region were referred to St. James's and the Mater, in line with service level agreements in place.

The HSE is working to bring this project into operation as soon as possible, to ensure that the people of Cork and Kerry have easy access to the most advanced diagnostics available and that better outcomes are achieved for patients. I am very pleased that this important and worthwhile development can go ahead. I hope this is a change from what he expected.