Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether there are already many centres of excellence operating in public hospitals; and if there has been research carried out into outcomes in this country that would have a bearing on decisions on where or how specific hospital faculties within a region or the country should be brought together. [28868/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There is an abundance of strong, international evidence to show that patients with cancer have the best chance of survival if they are treated by clinicians who treat a large number of patients with a similar condition per year. To secure these benefits requires a consolidation of cancer treatment services to a smaller number of centres and a smaller number of clinicians.

A clear case for the re-organisation of the delivery of cancer services in Ireland was articulated in "A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland, which was prepared by the National Cancer Forum. The Strategy recommended a move towards eight cancer centres nationally to ensure that cancer patients have access to consistently high quality care and the best chance of survival. As part of the development of the Strategy, the Forum reviewed patterns of surgical activity in Ireland, and concluded that "the current arrangements for the delivery of cancer services are not generally in accordance with best practice and cannot be recommended to deliver best-quality cancer care".

The recent 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. Professor Keane, interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme, is due to take up his post on 19 November. 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. Professor Keane will be engaging in detailed planning to facilitate the orderly phased transfer of services between locations. 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.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that children diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes who are denied comprehensive treatment at Cork University Hospital due to the recruitment embargo must await the outcome of the 2008 Estimates process to establish if improvement in service is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28878/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue 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.