Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the consideration being given to addressing the transportation needs that will arise in association with the consolidation of cancer services in eight designated centres over the course of the next two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2733/08]

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will put a viable transport system in place for cancer patients forced to travel long distances to access treatment or if she will rely on members of the public to provide this service despite the onus being on her Department to provide same to meet the needs of patients who can no longer attend local services due to the setting up of centralised centres of excellence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2037/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made in establishing designated transport facilities for patients who have to travel long distances to gain access to cancer care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2807/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 74 and 111 together.

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 Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to the designation of four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis.

The HSE is conducting a fundamental review of how transport services are provided which will take into account the decisions made in relation to the designation of cancer centres under the National Cancer Control Programme. The Programme is also in discussion with the Irish Cancer Society in relation to this issue and has reached agreement on the administration by the Society of a hardship related transport scheme, to be funded by the Programme.

The HSE is also putting in place a structured programme of quality assurance, support and information services to underpin the re-organisation of services to ensure that cancer patients will receive quality services as close to home as possible.