Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of her recent reiterated view that radiotherapy services for cancer patients are not deliverable within Letterkenny General Hospital as the population of the county will not suffice to service one of these units, the Health Service Executive will apply the same standards to any application by the private sector to provide these services in County Donegal. [17044/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is committed to significantly fast tracking the plans for a cross border radiotherapy unit for the population in the north west at Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, in partnership with Minister Michael McGimpsey, from the envisaged timescale of 2015. [17045/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 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 (BCH) 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 BCH.

Cancer patients in the North West requiring radiation oncology treatment are referred to either St. Luke's Hospital Dublin or University College Hospital Galway. A Service Level Agreement is also in place for the referral of radiation oncology patients from Donegal to BCH.

I met with Minister Michael McGimpsey of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSS&PS), 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. I welcome Minister McGimpsey's announcement last month, of the provision of a satellite centre (linked to Belfast City Hospital) to be located in Altnagelvin. It will provide the additional radiotherapy capacity needed to meet an anticipated increase in cancer in Northern Ireland and recognises the potential for cross border co-operation in the development of this resource. Officials from my Department and the DHSS&PS will hold further discussions in this regard.

The specific question raised by the Deputy in relation to quality standards in the provision of radiotherapy services relates 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.