Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he has committed funding towards the provision of radiotherapy units in private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16164/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not committed any revenue or capital resources towards the provision of radiotherapy services in private hospitals.

As the Deputy is aware, I launched the report of the expert working group on the development of radiation oncology services in Ireland on 9 October 2003. Its recommendations have been accepted by the Government. The Government agrees that a major programme is now required to develop rapidly clinical radiation oncology treatment services to modern standards. Furthermore, the Government has agreed that the first phase of such a new programme should be the development of a clinical network of large centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The development of those centres as a clinical network is of paramount importance and will, in the shortest possible timeframe, begin to address the profound deficit in radiation therapy services that has been identified in the report. The implementation of the report's recommendations is the single most important priority of my Department in cancer services in the acute setting.

Approval has issued for the purchase of two additional linear accelerators for the supra-regional centre at Cork University Hospital and the necessary capital investment amounting to more than €4 million to commission that service as rapidly as possible. In 2004, €1 million in ongoing revenue funding is being made available for the development, which will improve services for cancer patients in the Southern, Mid-Western and South Eastern Health Boards. Approval has issued for the appointment of two consultant radiation oncologists with sessional commitments to the South Eastern and Mid-Western Health Boards.

Regarding the supra-regional centre at University College Hospital, a new radiotherapy unit has been constructed and is being commissioned. In 2004, €2.5 million in ongoing revenue funding is being made available. Approval has been issued for the appointment of one consultant medical oncologist and three consultant radiation oncologists, two of whom will have sessional commitments to the North Western and Mid-Western Health Boards. Recruitment for those consultant posts is under way.