Laura Harmon (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. My question concerns radiation therapists and machines that are currently not operating in some hospitals throughout the country. Some are not operating at full capacity due to staffing issues. I am aware my question overlaps the Departments of Health and further and higher education. There is an estimated shortfall of between 30% and 35% in radiation therapists nationally and the unfortunate consequence of this staffing deficit means a number of linear accelerators, which are cancer treatment machines, have been out of service. I am aware of four, from meetings I have had with the Irish Cancer Society. As of March this year, it is my understanding that one linear accelerator machine and one CT scanner were closed in Cork University Hospital. One linear accelerator machine has been closed in St. Luke's in Rathgar, Dublin, with a skin cancer machine also closed for 50% of the week. One linear accelerator machine and one CT scanner are closed in St. James's in Dublin. One linear accelerator machine is closed 60% of the time in University Hospital Galway, with one CT scanner being used only 20% of the time in emergency cases. I want to check if there is more information relating to these, or if there are more up-to-date figures. It is estimated these closed machines can result in some 120 missed appointments per day. This is according to SIPTU representatives operating on the ground. We know from Irish Cancer Society figures that an estimated one in three patients is not getting the cancer care he or she needs on time and in a timely manner.

I am aware that this is also a higher education issue. It relates to course places and having people to operate these machines and this equipment, and ensuring posts are being created. It is also about ensuring that we are keeping our graduates in Ireland once they finish their courses, and that they have clear career pathways. I know this issue is costing the State. We recently saw in The Irish Times that private outsourcing of radiotherapy services cost €23 million last year. This week, it was welcome to see the HSE capital investment plan for 2025, which provides for €12.13 million for radiation oncology projects under the national cancer control programme. Perhaps I will follow up with the Department on where exactly that is being spent. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I look forward to his reply.