Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 163: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made in the development of cancer services since 1997; her plans for the development of such services and the actions she will be taking to ensure such services are available in all regions of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26959/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Since 1997 there has been a cumulative additional investment of approximately €720 million in the development of appropriate treatment and care services for people with cancer. This investment has enabled the funding of more than 100 additional consultant posts in key areas of cancer care throughout the country. The funding has also provided for the appointment of an additional 245 cancer care nurse specialist across the regions. An evaluation of the first national cancer strategy demonstrated that the key goal of the strategy, to achieve a 15% decrease in mortality from cancer in the under 65 age group, was achieved in 2001, three years ahead of target.

BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme commenced in March 2000 with phase one of the programme covering the eastern, north eastern and midland regions of the country. The expansion of the programme to the south east has commenced and screening services are available in Counties Wexford and Carlow. The roll-out of the programme to the remaining regions in the country is a major priority in the development of cancer services. A design team has been appointed to work up detailed plans for the construction of two new BreastCheck clinical units, one at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital Cork and the other at University College Hospital Galway. Approximately €21million capital funding has been made available and my Department is in discussions with BreastCheck regarding the revenue requirements for the programme. There are approximately 130,000 women in the target population for screening in the southern and western regions and BreastCheck is confident that the target date of April 2007 for the commencement of the roll-out will be met.

I am committed to the roll-out of the national cervical screening programme in line with international best practice. Following the publication of the international expert's report on the feasibility and implications of a national roll out, my Department undertook a consultative process with relevant professional and advocacy stakeholders. My Department will now discuss options for a national roll-out of the programme with the Health Service Executive.

The Government's policy on radiation oncology is based on the report, The Development of Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland. Recent developments in Cork and Galway have resulted in the provision of an additional fivelinear accelerators and the appointment of an additional five consultant radiation oncologists. Last July I announced the Government's plan for a national network of radiation oncology services to be put in place by 2011 and commencing in 2008. The network will consist of four large centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway and two integrated satellite centres at Waterford Regional Hospital and Limerick Regional Hospital. The Government considers that the best option in terms of improving geographic access for patients in the north western area is to facilitate access for those patients to radiation oncology services as part of North-South co-operation on cancer. I have met the Minister for Health for Northern Ireland, Mr. Shaun Woodward, to discuss access by patients mainly in the north-west to radiation oncology services at Belfast City Hospital. I will meet him again shortly to further progress the Government's position on radiation oncology. Officials of my Department will also meet officials of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland shortly. The Government is committed to making the full range of cancer services available and accessible to cancer patients throughout Ireland in line with best international standards. It is important to build teams of highly expert clinicians working together to deliver top quality cancer care to cancer patients. To this end, we will provide considerable investment in oncology services in the coming years.

The national cancer forum is finalising a new national cancer strategy. The strategy has been developed in consultation with major stakeholders including professional and voluntary groups and the public and will have regard to the multifaceted aspects of cancer control. The strategy will set out the key priorities for the development of cancer services over the coming years and will make recommendations in relation to a balanced organisation of cancer services nationally, with defined roles for hospitals in the delivery of cancer care. It is anticipated that this work will be completed before the end of the year.