Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding allocated by her for research on breast cancer for each year from 2000 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30556/05]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding allocated by her for research on prostate cancer for each year from 2000 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30557/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.

Since 1997, there has been an additional cumulative investment of €720 million in the development of cancer services nationally, including the sum of €23.5 million which was made available in 2005. The Health Research Board, HRB, is the statutory body that promotes, conducts, funds and commissions medical, epidemiological and health services research in Ireland. The HRB has advised my Department that since 2000, funding of approximately €1.76 million has been made available for research into breast cancer and €0.35 million for research into prostate cancer.

Under the Ireland-Northern Ireland-National Cancer Institute consortium, an all-island infrastructure to co-ordinate the clinical trial activity of hospitals on both sides of the Border is being developed. Since 2001, awards to the value of €3.6 million have been made available through the HRB to support this initiative in nine hospitals throughout the country.

The predominant disease area of the cancer clinical trial community in this country is breast and prostate. The HRB estimates that approximately 90% of this funding has been spent on the development of clinical trials in breast and prostate cancer. In addition, a grant of €0.32 million was made available to the Irish Cancer Society in 2002 to support the study of prostate cancer, including diagnosis.

The National Cancer Forum is currently finalising a new national cancer strategy. The strategy will make recommendations on the development of a specific plan for cancer research and will be completed by the end of the year.