Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this serious issue. I wish his daughter the best of health. It cannot have been easy for her over the past 24 years. I had my own brush with cancer last year with skin cancer. It is not easy when one is going through it. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank the Senator for opportunity to address the issue of funding for head and neck cancer services.

This Government's commitment to implementation of the national cancer strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. New development funding of €20 million was allocated to cancer services and €15 million was allocated for new cancer drugs in 2021 and 2022.This increased total funding for cancer services in 2022 to €139 million. To date, this funding has supported the recruitment of 393 additional staff in cancer services across eight designated cancer centres and 18 systemic anti-cancer therapy hospitals.

There has also been significant additional investment in oral healthcare services in recent years, including the allocation in budget 2023 of €900,000, which Senator Craughwell spoke about, to support the provision by the dental hospitals of reconstructive care to patients following treatment for head and neck cancer. This funding is available in full to the HSE, which engages with the dental hospitals on the use of the funding to ensure the needs of patients for vital reconstructive work are met.

The reply does not give me any detail in relation to Dublin Dental University Hospital, so I will have to follow it up afterwards. I was not aware Senator Craughwell would raise the matter when I read the question and the transcript of the reply, and it does not deal with it but the reply states that funding is available in full to the HSE. Patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment need a range of dental supports, as Senator Craughwell knows. They may require routine dental care before treatment to ensure they are ready for treatment. During cancer treatment, they may experience a range of dental or oral symptoms which are commonly experienced following radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Patients who have a medical card, who are aged 16 and over, are entitled to access a range of treatments free of charge under the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS. Head and neck cancer patients are eligible for a wider range of dental treatments under the DTSS, including periodontal care, additional fillings, and dentures. Each dental hospital has an access pathway in place, which allows them to provide care to medical card holders through the DTSS. Care can also be accessed via dentists in the community who operate the DTSS, but we know there are challenges there. Within the framework of the legislation, every effort is made by the HSE to support applicants in applying for a medical card, in particular to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants whose income may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and, for example, grant a medical card. Discretionary medical cards are issued to patients with significant medical expenses. Emergency medical cards are issued to patients who are terminally ill and medical cards are issued to persons who are terminally ill and have been certified by their treating consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months.

There is a lot of detail there but it does not answer the specific questions Senator Craughwell asked me. Some €900,000 was allocated. I have been told that funding is available in full to the HSE but I will follow up in regard to the Dublin Dental University Hospital. Senator Craughwell said it sought in excess of €800,000 and I think he said €315,000 has been allocated. He might confirm that.