Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to provide additional funding for dedicated services on domestic violence in view of the continuing extent of this problem and the funding difficulties facing many support organisations and refuges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41939/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Violence Against Women sector was given an increase of €4.5m in the 2007 Estimates, bringing the total budget to €16.5m. The allocation of the increased budget is currently being determined by the HSE. This Department met with the HSE recently to discuss the allocation of funding in this area and a further meeting is to take place next week with the Directors of the two main NGO networks in this area, the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland and the National Network of Women's Refuges and Support Services.

Two early decisions have been taken. Firstly, Women's Aid has been allocated an extra €70k to develop its helpline service and, secondly, allocations will be made to meet shortfalls experienced by membership organisations of the two networks named above. An audit is ongoing in the HSE to determine the funding requirements within this sector. The outcomes of this audit, together with needs identified by the two national networks, will inform the HSE in the optimum allocation of the remainder of the increased allocation.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of the promised funding for the cancer strategy that has been spent; the areas it has been spent on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6264/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The aim of the National Cancer Control Strategy, which was published in June 2006, is to reduce our cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality rates relative to other Member States of the European Union. This Government is committed to investing significantly in the implementation of the Strategy. I have made available an additional €20.5m this year for cancer control.

This is an increase of 74% on the comparable 2006 investment and includes €3.5m to support the initial implementation of the HSE National Cancer Control Programme. The Programme will manage, organise and deliver cancer control on a whole population basis. It will have a strong emphasis on prevention and early detection, integrated across primary, hospital, supportive and palliative care. The Service Plan of the HSE for this year sets out the detailed deliverables of the Programme. This includes the establishment of the leadership team to implement the Programme, including the Director of the Programme and key medical leaders at network level. I have allocated an additional €3.25m this year to support the implementation of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will support the appointment of additional Consultant Radiation Oncologists, Specialist Registrars and support staff. The National Cancer Registry has been allocated an additional €0.4m this year and €0.35m has been allocated to the Health Research Board for All-Ireland-NCI Cancer Consortium activities, including a cancer biobanking initiative and further support for the clinical trials initiative.

Evidence based population based screening programmes are an essential element of the Strategy. I established a National Cancer Screening Service Board on 1 January this year. The total allocation to the new Service is €33m, a 71% increase on the funding available in 2006. This includes €8m which has been allocated this year for the roll out of the national breast screening programme to the West and South which will commence this Spring and €5m to commence the roll out of a national cervical screening programme later this year. The Service will also advise on the implementation of a national colorectal screening programme.