Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will intervene on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [25204/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will intervene on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [25205/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will investigate the circumstances of the death of a person (details supplied) and in particular the delays caused by technical problems with the ambulance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25214/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My Dept has been advised that, in accordance with the statutory complaints procedure, the National Ambulance Service of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sad events of 26th May this year.

As operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including the National Ambulance Service is a matter for the HSE, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans in place with regard to oncology services in Sligo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25220/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans in place with regard to chemotherapy services in Sligo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25221/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans in place for radiation oncology services in Sligo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25222/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 239, inclusive, together.

The implementation of the National Cancer Control Programme is a major priority for me and for this Government. I fully support the appointment by the Health Service Executive (HSE) of Prof. Tom Keane as Interim National Cancer Control Director. The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will serve to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome irrespective of geography. The decisions of the HSE in relation to four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. The HSE plans to have completed 50% of the transition of services to the cancer centres by end 2008 and 80-90% by end 2009.

The HSE has designated University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) and Limerick Regional Hospital as the two cancer centres in the Managed Cancer Control Network for the HSE Western Region which includes Sligo. The designation of cancer centres aims to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care while at the same time allowing local access to services, where appropriate. Where diagnosis and treatment planning is directed and managed by multi-disciplinary teams based at the cancer centres, then much of the treatment (other than surgery) can be delivered in local hospitals, such as Sligo General Hospital.

Patients from Sligo who require radiation oncology are referred to the Radiation Oncology Department at UCHG for treatment. The Department and the HSE have been working closely on the examination of procurement options in order to expedite the delivery of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology. I have been assured that the HSE will have in place radiation oncology capacity to meet the needs of the population by 2010. After 2010 the HSE will continue to increase capacity to ensure that these needs continue to be met.