Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way it is proposed to deliver the promised radiation oncology facility in Waterford city; if this will be through the construction of such a facility in the public system and as part of Waterford Regional Hospital or if it will be in the private sector as part of the private hospital co-location plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4692/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The development of radiation oncology at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) is an integral part of the Government's National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will be part of a major oncology development at WRH, including the provision of a 20 bed oncology day ward. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that it is not intended to provide this development under its co-location initiative at the hospital.

It is my objective and that of the HSE to see the earliest delivery of the Plan in the best interests of cancer patients throughout the country. In December last year I met with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the HSE and discussed the timelines for the delivery of the National Plan. The HSE is examining options to speed up the pace of delivery and will make recommendations to me shortly. In the interim, a service level agreement was signed on 1 February between the HSE and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre Whitfield Clinic in County Waterford. This will support the referral of public patients for radiation oncology treatment pending the commissioning of the radiation oncology centre at WRH.