Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here today. This is very straightforward. I have many male friends and they get very depressed when they start to go bald. It can occur naturally as early as in their 20s, and up to their 50s. It is upsetting for them even though it is natural for men to go around being bald despite them not perhaps always loving the idea. If that is upsetting, then how upsetting must it be for a person going through cancer treatment? The person possibly might not have to go through the upset of losing their hair if they happen to be near one of the seven hospitals out of 26 providing cancer treatment that can offer scalp cooling therapy. That is the bottom line really. It is such a small cost, €20,000 per machine. We need them in 26 hospitals and only have them in seven. It would only cost €380,000. Everybody who has to go through chemotherapy could be given the choice of having this treatment. It does not mean they have to do it, but it seems very straightforward if it is something the person would like to do.

Personally, I would be devastated if I were to lose my hair, although I have shaved my hair off for charity in the past. Having known the Minister for the last three and a half years, I think this is something he will understand and appreciate the importance of. The studies show that one of the most upsetting things for many people with cancer is losing their hair. Not alone is it bad that the person has cancer, but one of the most upsetting thing statistically for people is the hair loss. I have friends who have been battling with cancer. A positive mental attitude is such an important part of dealing with cancer at whatever stage.

If the hair loss is affecting a person's positive mental attitude, then that is a good enough reason to fund this initiative. It is a really good motion and I want to thank my colleague, Senator Pauline O'Reilly, for working on this. It is important to note that the Government has provided grants for wigs for people on medical cards and under the PRSI treatment benefit scheme. The Government has thereby acknowledged the importance many women place on not losing their hair. It makes perfect sense that we would follow it up and instead of funding the purchase of wigs, we could fund a means to prevent people needing to wear wigs in the first place.