Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the centre of excellence designation being awarded to St. James's Hospital, she will move cancer surgery from Tallaght Hospital from 2009. [5883/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The decisions of the HSE to designate four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. Prof. Tom Keane took up his post as National Cancer Control Director in November 2007. 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. This will involve significant realignment of services to move from the present fragmented system of care to one which is consistent with international best practice in cancer control. Prof. Keane has advised that meetings and discussions are underway with the eight designated centres and with the non-designated hospitals currently providing cancer services, including Tallaght Hospital in order to manage the transition. A detailed transitional plan will be put in place to facilitate the progressive, gradual and carefully managed transfer of services over the next two years or so.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the removal of overnight beds for sick children from Tallaght Hospital and the proposed move from Our Lady's in Crumlin to the Mater Hospital will mean that there will be no overnight beds for sick children on the south side of Dublin city. [5884/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the proposal to replace the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght with an urgent care centre will mean that there will be no overnight beds for sick children in the hospital. [5885/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.

I am aware of the concerns previously raised regarding the level of service to be provided at Tallaght in the context of the development of the National Paediatric Hospital. It should be noted that currently the vast majority of children attending the National Children's Hospital Emergency Department do not require admission, and will continue to access their care at the new Ambulatory and Urgent Care Centre which is to be developed at Tallaght. It has been estimated that when the first Ambulatory and Urgent Care Centre is developed at Tallaght it will cater for approximately 48,000 emergency attendances, 9,000 day cases and 58,000 out-patient attendances. Clearly the projected level of activity would change depending on the number of such centres to be developed. My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly on the specific operational issues raised in the Deputy's questions.