Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if and when orthodontic treatment has been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11733/05]

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 orthodontic services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's eastern regional area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 192: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether subjecting an elderly cancer patient to a seven hour return trip from the south east in order to attend St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, for palliative radiotherapy is acceptable; her further views on whether this inhumane situation will change based on her address to her party conference in April 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11739/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 194: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the sub-committee set up to examine designated transport of cancer patients to radiotherapy facilities is likely to produce its report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11741/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 198: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans for radiotherapy services for cancer patients in the north west in view of the fact that Donegal is isolated from centralised radiotherapy locations and that a link up with Northern Ireland for radiotherapy services is not a possibility at present. [11745/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 199: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which the access for cancer patients in the north west will be improved in view of the fact that she has stated that the accepted Government policy for radiotherapy will allow an improved service with adequate access for patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11746/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the planned Government programme for radiotherapy services is seriously flawed in that it excludes cancer patients in the south west, mid-west and the north west from having acceptable access to radiotherapy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11747/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 207: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she intends to provide a regional radiotherapy service to the people of the south east by the method given in the Prospectus study on public private hospital partnerships; if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11858/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 208: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason she outlined in her address to her party's conference in April 2005 her Department's centralised policy on radiotherapy for centrally located units in view of the fact that she has constantly stated that she would bring cancer services close to patients; the way by which this can mean that services will be brought close to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11859/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192, 194, 198 to 200, inclusive, 207 and 208 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. 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.

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 autumn. Two additional consultant radiation oncologists will be appointed at CUH with sessional commitments to the south-eastern and the mid-western areas.

The supra-regional centre at University College Hospital Galway commenced treatments for radiotherapy last month. An additional consultant medical oncologist and three consultant radiation oncologists are being appointed, two of whom have significant sessional commitments to the north-western and the mid-western areas. The report recommends that there should be two radiotherapy treatment centres located in the eastern region areas. The international panel established to advise on the optimum locations for these centres has submitted its advice to me. I intend to reach a decision on this matter shortly.

As recommended in the report, the national radiation oncology co-ordinating group has been established. The group comprises clinical, technical, managerial, academic and nursing expertise from different geographic regions. The group's remit encompasses recommending measures to facilitate improved access to existing and planned services. With regard to transport solutions, the group is reviewing the progress of a pilot project involving St. Luke's Hospital aimed at improving patient access by better co-ordination between the providers of radiotherapy and referring hospitals. In light of the fact that key representatives of the providers of radiotherapy and referring hospitals are members of the group it does not intend to prepare a specific report on transport. Transport solutions are already a feature of the provision of radiation oncology services, full details of which are available from the Health Service Executive.

Members are also involved in the development of a national tele-synergy network for radiation oncology services to support improved linkages between hospitals and reduce patient and consultant travel time. The system will initially be installed in Cork and Galway this summer following which the tele-synergy light system will be installed in nominated hospitals in the south-eastern, mid-western and north-western areas which refer patients for radiation oncology treatment to Dublin, Cork and Galway. The project is progressing well and is receiving significant support from the US national institutes of health. If the Deputy were to provide more specific details on the individual case he raised, my Department will refer it to the Health Service Executive for attention.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if dignity will be extended to terminally ill cancer patients who require to be free from pain in their last days and to be in the presence of their loved ones by the provision of adequate resources for care of the dying instead of total dependence on charitable donations for this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11740/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The publication of the report of the national advisory committee on palliative care was approved by the Government and launched on 4 October 2001. The report describes a comprehensive palliative care service and acts as a blueprint for its development over a five to seven-year period. The report also acknowledged the role of the voluntary sector in the provision of palliative care services. The Department of Health and Children has provided funding to all the former health boards on a pro rata basis to commence the development of palliative care services in line with the recommendations in the report.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, 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 provision of palliative care services.

The report recommended that palliative care needs assessment studies should be carried out in each health board area. Information gleaned from these studies, which included the views of all stakeholders including service providers, patients and their carers, will inform the future development of palliative care services at Health Service Executive level in consultation with the consultative and development committees which have been set up as recommended in the report.