John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date she expects the cancer centres of excellence to be fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29997/07]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff who will move to centres of excellence under the National Cancer Control Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29998/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, as promised in May 2007, costings have been prepared for the implementation of the National Cancer Control Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29957/07]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the new National Cancer Chief Executive will see the implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan, which includes the transfer of all major cancer treatment to the eight designated specialist cancer centres, in view of the fact that they are only contracted for two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29999/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 78, 100 and 118 together.

The implementation of the National Cancer Control Programme is a major priority for me and for this Government. The recent decisions of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. 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. Prof. Tom Keane took up his position as interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme last Monday. Prof. Keane will be engaging in detailed planning to facilitate the orderly phased transfer of services between locations.

Prof. Keane and the HSE have emphasised the importance of mobilising existing resources and redirecting them to achieve the National Cancer Control Programme objectives. The HSE is putting arrangements in place to enable Prof. Keane to take control of all new cancer developments from 1 January 2008 and progressively all existing cancer services and related funding and staffing. An additional €20.5m was allocated to the HSE this year for cancer control, including €3.5m to support the initial implementation of the National Cancer Control Programme. Further investment in cancer control will be based on the reform programme now being implemented by the HSE.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive regarding the crisis in mammography services and the implications for wider cancer care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29940/07]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the provisions that have been put in place to assist patients affected by the immediate closure of breast cancer services at 13 hospitals nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29996/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects to announce the availability of a thoroughly reliable and available breast cancer diagnostic and treatment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30289/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the equipment used in mammography tests was purchased at all sectors, public and private, where such tests are carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30290/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken or proposes to take to upgrade the services available for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer with particular reference to the need to ensure the availability of the highest quality and most reliable service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30293/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 79, 193, 194 and 197 together.

The development and improvement of diagnostic and treatment services for breast cancer patients is a major priority in the development of cancer services. A national breast screening programme combined with quality assured symptomatic services nationally are key elements of our cancer control programme.

BreastCheck has commenced the screening process in the South and West. I am committed to ensuring that the BreastCheck service is rolled out to the remaining regions in the country as quickly as possible. I have allocated additional revenue funding of €8 million to the National Cancer Screening Service for this year to meet the additional costs involved. The full complement of 111 staff for roll-out has been approved. I have also made available an additional €26.7m capital funding for the construction of two new clinical units and the provision of seven additional mobile units and state of the art digital equipment. Construction commenced on the static sites at the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital in Cork and University College Hospital Galway in November last year and final handover of the buildings is scheduled for the end of this month.

Arising from the designation of eight cancer centres nationally and in order to comply with the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has directed a number of hospitals with very low case volumes to cease breast cancer services. The National Hospitals Office has already planned the redirection of this symptomatic caseload. Further staged reductions in the number of hospitals providing breast cancer services will occur over the next two years in line with the development of quality assured capacity in the eight designated centres.

The specific questions raised by the Deputies regarding mammography equipment and the provisions that have been put in place to assist patients affected by the transfer of breast cancer services relates to the management and delivery of health, personal and social 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 respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.