Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a helpline (details supplied) in Dublin 24 for teenagers who are feeling suicidal, is coming under increasing pressure to meet funding needs; if she will provide assurances that this organisation, working out of Tallaght, will be assisted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11381/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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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 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive, therefore, is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter 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.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a progress report between northern and southern administrations regarding a proposed satellite radiotherapy centre for the north-west; the time frame towards implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11388/08]

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients from County Donegal who utilised the cancer services of Belfast City Hospital in 2007; and the funding provided by her Department towards the development of the Belfast City Hospital cancer treatment facility. [11409/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 254 together.

The Government decided in July 2005 that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the North West to radiation oncology services is to (i) facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital and (ii) progress consideration of a joint venture for the provision of oncology services in the medium term to patients in the North West from a satellite centre in the North West linked to Belfast City Hospital.

Cancer patients in the North West requiring radiation oncology treatment are referred to either St. Luke's Hospital Dublin or to University College Hospital Galway. A Service Level Agreement has also been in place since 2006 between the Health Service Executive, Belfast City Hospital Trust and Altnagelvin Area Hospital for the referral of radiation oncology patients from Donegal to Belfast City Hospital.

I met with Minister Michael McGimpsey of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland on 28 November last. We discussed the potential for further cross-border collaboration in relation to cancer care, and specifically, provision of a satellite centre for radiation oncology in the North West, linked to Belfast City Hospital. We agreed that this issue would be progressed by both of our Departments in the context of our ongoing assessment of the feasibility of greater cross-border co-operation in health and social care.

The specific questions raised by the Deputy in relation to the referral of patients from County Donegal to Belfast City Hospital and the funding for same relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the HSE under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.