Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the lack of ring fenced funding for the recent cancer strategy; the progress that has taken place for the cancer strategy to date and the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41394/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that provisions made in the context of the national plan and in the interim in respect of the treatment of cancer patients is adequate in terms of location, extent, ready access and expertise with particular reference to patient requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41681/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 318 together.

I am committed to investing significantly in the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy. The Estimates for 2007 include additional revenue funding of €20.5m for cancer control. This is an increase of 74% on the 2006 investment.

This funding includes €3.5m to support the initial implementation of the HSE National Cancer Control Programme. The HSE will establish four Managed Cancer Control Networks to deliver the Programme. Clinical leaders in oncology will be appointed to lead the delivery of quality multi-disciplinary care. The main priorities are the establishment of the leadership team to implement the Programme, including the National Cancer Control Director and key medical leaders at network level. The Programme will facilitate national standards for equity and access and will maximise ambulatory care.

I will shortly establish a National Cancer Screening Service to amalgamate BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme (ICSP) to deliver both programmes nationally. BreastCheck will commence national roll-out in Spring of next year. The ICSP will commence roll-out in late 2007, based on an affordable model. I have allocated additional funding of €8m and €5m to BreastCheck and the ICSP respectively to deliver on these commitments. The Service will also advise in relation to a colorectal cancer screening programme.

My Department is working closely with the Health Service Executive and the National Development Finance Agency to progress the delivery of the National Radiation Oncology Plan for which additional revenue funding of €3.25m has been allocated in 2007. This will support the appointment of additional Consultant Radiation Oncologists, Specialist Registrars and support staff. Six new linear accelerators will be provided in the Eastern Region in the short term, two in St. Luke's Hospital Dublin in late 2007 to provide much needed interim capacity pending roll-out of the national plan and two each in St. James's and Beaumont Hospitals by early 2009.