Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which terminally ill patients throughout Ireland will access radiotherapy for pain relief in the last weeks of their life in view of the fact that they cannot travel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9005/05]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the nature of the plan for radiotherapy in the south east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9007/05]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that cancer patients in Letterkenny, County Donegal, do not have access to a radiation oncologist clinic and that therefore the facility to process patients for radiotherapy is absent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9008/05]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the sub-committee on radiotherapy continues to deliberate on, and the reason there is a delay for, providing resources for transport measures for patients outside centralised locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9009/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 94 to 96, inclusive, together.

The Government's policy on radiation oncology is based on the report on The Development of Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland. The Government is determined to ensure access by cancer patients throughout the country to high quality radiation oncology in line with best international standards. Significant progress is being made in implementing the report's recommendations. The short term developments in Cork and Galway will significantly improve access by cancer patients to radiotherapy treatment, including for palliative purposes.

Two additional linear accelerators are being provided at the supra-regional centre at Cork University Hospital, CUH, at a capital cost of over €4 million. The first of these linear accelerators has been installed and the second is expected to be commissioned by the autumn. Last year, approval issued for the appointment of 29 staff for this unit and additional ongoing revenue funding of €3 million to cater for this expansion. Two additional consultant radiation oncologists will be appointed at CUH with sessional commitments to the south eastern and the mid-western areas. CUH is also in the process of recruiting other key posts required for the commissioning of the new linear accelerators.

The supra-regional centre at University College Hospital Galway commenced treatments for radiotherapy last week. Last year, approval issued for the appointment of 102 staff for this unit, together with ongoing revenue funding of €12 million to cater for this expansion. Approval issued for the appointment of an additional consultant medical oncologist and three consultant radiation oncologists, two of whom have significant sessional commitments to the north western and the mid-western areas. Key staffing is in place. The first consultant radiation oncologist has already started and the second is due to take up post on 29 March. The report recommends that there should be two radiotherapy treatment centres located in the eastern region, one serving the southern part of the region and adjacent catchment areas and one serving the northern part of the region and adjacent catchment areas. The international panel established to advise on the optimum locations for radiation oncology services in the eastern region submitted its advice to me on 28 January last. I intend to reach an early decision in relation to this matter. While the immediate priority is to provide significantly enhanced services in the major population centres of Dublin, Cork and Galway, I will keep the question of networked satellite locations under active review.

The HSE currently has significant dedicated transport arrangements in place for radiotherapy patients. The remit of the national radiation oncology co-ordinating group encompasses recommending measures to facilitate improved access to existing and planned services, including transport and accommodation. The group comprises clinical, technical, managerial, academic and nursing expertise from different geographic regions. The group will also advise on quality assurance protocols and guidelines for the referral of public patients to private facilities.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether her Department is breaching its own guidelines for the administration of chemotherapy by failing to provide adequate resources to oncology services and adequate day wards and designated oncology wards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9006/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the delivery of hospital services, including the application of guidelines for the use of cytotoxic medical preparations in the treatment of patients with cancer. The principal element in relation to the implementation of guidelines is the provision of services by medical consultants with appropriate training in cancer chemotherapy.

Since 1997 cumulative additional investment of approximately €720 million in cancer care has led to the appointment of an additional 109 consultants, including 18 medical oncologists, 12 haematologists and over 250 cancer nurse specialists. This investment has ensured that there has been a significant improvement in the range and quality of cancer services generally, and in particular in medical oncology and in the provision of oncology drugs.