Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. An t-ábhar atá os comhair an tSeanaid anocht ná cúram ailse do dhaoine san iar-thuaisceart a bhfuil ailse brollaigh agus ailsí eile orthu agus an gá go mbeadh seirbhís radaiteiripe ann sa cheantar. Tá gealltanas tugtha ag an Rialtas seo i gcomhar leis an Fheidhmeannas go mbunófar an tseirbhís sin. Ba mhaith liom fosta an conradh idir ospideál Leitir Ceanainn agus ospideál Bhéal Feirste, fána bhféadfadh othair as Tír Chonaill freastal ar ospidéal i mBéal Feirste fá choinne seirbhísí ailse a fháil, a lua. Tá an conradh sin le hathnuachan roimh i bhfad.

I am raising the need for the Minister of State to outline the progress being made in the provision of a satellite radiotherapy centre for the north west. There has been a long campaign in Donegal, led by cancer patients, that brought 15,000 on to the streets and which enjoys the support of politicians from all sides. The campaign looks at the critical mass on both sides of the Border to ensure a safe service is provided for the people of the north west, be they from Derry or from Donegal. Progress has been made in the campaign, which I welcome, and the Government has entered an agreement with the Executive in the Six Counties and the Minister for Health, Social Services and Personal Safety there, Michael McGimpsey, to agree to develop a satellite radiotherapy centre in Altnagelvin Hospital. The date given for the establishment of that centre is 2014.

What progress has been made? What discussions have taken place between both Ministers and Departments? Is Professor Keane, who is in charge of the cancer strategy, central to the process? Are we sure this is not just buying the service from Altnagelvin for Donegal patients or is co-operation integral between Letterkenny General Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital? That is the necessary arrangement; this cannot be seen as a service on one side of the Border with the other side buying it up.

As an interim measure, patients from Donegal can avail of cancer services in Belfast City Hospital under an agreement the Minister for Health and Children signed in 2006, with up to 50 patients able to access the hospital for treatment each year. The number of patients has increased steadily since the contract was entered into. The contract is up for renewal and there is a fear in Donegal that the patients might be seen as a soft target when the Government is trying to curtail spending. That would be wrong. The campaign has been fought, the argument won and the service is being bought in Belfast City Hospital as an interim measure. There is also a real fear that the satellite radiotherapy centre that is to be developed in the north west will also be put on the long finger.

I am asking about this on behalf of those who took to the streets and on behalf of cancer patients and those who have not yet been diagnosed but will need these services in the future. We want to be reassured that come 2014, people will not have to leave Gaoth Dobhair to travel five hours to Dublin and that they will be able to go to a centre in the north west where the service will be available as agreed by the two Governments, North and South.