Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Harmon for raising this Commencement matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

There are three public radiation therapy services that operate linear accelerator machines in Ireland. These are located in Galway, Cork and Dublin across the St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network. There are a total of 22 linear accelerators across three services: Galway has four machines, Cork has five machines and the Dublin network has 14 machines. The HSE also contracts radiotherapy services from two private providers in Limerick and Waterford. There is also a service level agreement between the HSE and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland to provide radiotherapy on a cross-Border basis at the North West Cancer Centre in Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry.

In 2024, the HSE provided more than 6,600 patients with radiotherapy treatment. The HSE national cancer control programme has advised that Galway, Dublin and Cork all record inactivity rates equal to 0.5 of a machine, and this is largely due to staffing issues. I have checked that and it is 0.5 of a machine within each area. I have given the Senator the data that Galway has four machines, Cork has five machines and Dublin network has 14 machines. I sought clarification on that point. The linear accelerators are used for an average of nine hours a day and up to 11 hours when necessary. This time utilisation is similar when compared with international counterparts such as Sweden, Canada and the UK.

Evidence shows that providing timely therapy to patients improves outcomes. The HSE recognises the importance of this and, where deemed clinically necessary, patients are referred to private service providers and an investment of around €10 million per year is spent on outsourcing radiotherapy appointments to ensure timely treatment.

As Senator Harmon noted, there was a staff shortage of 30% in radiation therapy posts in March 2024, and I am pleased to note the efforts of the HSE in making improvements in the past year. By last month, this deficit had been reduced to 14% to 22% across the three services and work is being done to improve this further.

In budget 2025, €23 million was secured for the national cancer strategy. Funding will be used to recruit additional staff, including two consultant radiation oncologists, six advanced practice radiotherapists and a number of other clinical positions. The recruitment process for these posts is due to commence before the end of this month.

A national radiation therapist review report was completed in 2024. The review made 16 recommendations that are intended to support and enhance the radiation therapy profession. In line with the recommendations of the review, the professional registration requirements for radiation therapists have also been reviewed. This brings Ireland into line with international comparators.

The demand for radiotherapy services is increasing year by year in line with expectations identified by the National Cancer Registry Ireland and the national cancer control programme. The Government remains fully committed to the continued implementation of the national cancer strategy and to improving radiation therapy capacity to ensure timely treatment for patients. This will build on the progress already made in improving survivorship and quality of life for cancer patients.