Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the opposition of many patients to the proposal to move cancer treatment facilities from St. Luke's to St. James's; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41444/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government and I are anxious to build on the expertise and ethos of St. Luke's. It is held in great affection by the Irish people. Many thousands of Irish patients and their families from every part of the country have experienced high quality cancer care at St. Luke's.

The decision to transfer St. Luke's Hospital to St. James's Hospital, Dublin was taken by the Government in the best interests of cancer patients. The decision was based on expert medical, scientific and management advice. It is designed to ensure that radiation oncology is integrated with all other aspects of cancer care, including surgery and medical oncology. It is in line with best international practice. This is the model that exists at Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital Galway and which is being developed at Beaumont and St. James's Hospitals, Dublin. The Board of St. Luke's Hospital and its Executive Management Team are fully committed to supporting this decision. A transfer on similar lines took place earlier this year in Northern Ireland when radiation oncology services transferred from a stand alone facility to Belfast City Hospital, which is a major academic teaching hospital.

The expertise and professional commitment of the staff at St. Luke's Hospital will continue to be an essential element in the provision of cancer care. Medical and scientific experts from the hospital are involved in developing the output specifications for the delivery of new radiation oncology services nationally. I have also appointed the Chairman of St. Luke's to chair a National Radiation Oncology Oversight Group to advise me on progress on the implementation of the plan.

In recognition of the role for St. Luke's in the new facility at St. James', I have made a commitment to pursue discussions with the Boards of both Hospitals about its governance and a re-configuration of the Boards, with the twin goals of ensuring continuity of expertise and ethos in the care of cancer patients and the effective integration of multi-disciplinary patient care at the one site. I remain confident the transition will be managed with great sensitivity and skill by the two hospital Boards to achieve those objectives.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take on foot of the recommendations of the Health Service Executive report into neurosurgical services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41416/06]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on statements made by a consultant neurosurgeon that neurosurgery services here were on the verge of collapse due to a shortage of consultants and a shortage of beds and crucial surgical equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41421/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 144 together.

The Health Service Executive recently published a Review of Neurosurgical Services in Ireland. The Report identifies a clear need for significant investment in, and organisational reform of, neurosurgical services. Neurosurgery is currently provided at the national centre in Beaumont Hospital and in Cork University Hospital. The Report recommends that the future development of safe, high quality neurosurgical services in Ireland would be best served by a two-pronged approach by increasing capacity in Dublin and Cork and improving access to neurosurgical units, including transport and telemedicine facilities for referring hospitals.

The HSE is committed to progressing the recommendations of the Report. It is undertaking a national neurosciences needs assessment. Neuroscience includes neurology, neurophysiology and neurosurgery. This assessment is guided by previous reviews of neurology and neurophysiology services and the recent report on neurosurgery. It aims to clearly identify the requirements for neuroscience services as a whole across the country.

An additional €3m was provided in 2006 to develop 3 new neurology units in Waterford, Limerick and Sligo through the appointment of 3 consultant neurology teams. In addition, the HSE provided funding for the appointment of an additional paediatric neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital this year. The recently published Estimates for the Health Service Executive provides a further €4m to continue these developments into 2007.