Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the timetable for the implementation of the transformation plan for hospital services in the north east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45575/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The immediate focus of the North East Transformation Programme is to have acute and complex care concentrated on two hospital sites and to ensure that services in the region are organised to optimise patient safety.

Planned changes include the transfer of acute in-patient services from Monaghan to Cavan and the development of additional services at Monaghan. Specific measures need to be put in place prior to this transfer of acute care to Cavan General Hospital, including the establishment of a new Medical Assessment Unit at Cavan and significant enhancements to the ambulance and pre-hospital care service. The transfer which is scheduled for early next year will be formally announced once various dependencies are in place.

In Louth/Meath the immediate focus is on strengthening existing medical services, enhancing emergency department capacity, developing appropriate ambulance protocols, completing surgical reconfiguration, transferring acute services to Drogheda and providing additional community packages of care. The sequence and timing of these changes is subject to detailed planning by the HSE and will require significant engagement and extensive communication with stakeholders.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to establish a radiotherapy cancer treatment unit in the north west; the meetings held with her Northern Ireland counterpart to discuss this matter; when it is expected that such a centre will be established; the location of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45437/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government decided in July 2005 that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the North West to radiation oncology services in the short term was to facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital. It also decided to explore the scope in the medium term for developing a joint venture based on 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 University College Hospital Galway. A Service Level Agreement is also in place for the referral of radiation oncology patients from Donegal to Belfast City Hospital.

In April this year, Minister Michael McGimpsey of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSS&PS), Northern Ireland announced 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. It also recognises the potential for cross border co-operation in the development of this resource. Officials from my Department and their counterparts in Northern Ireland continue to hold discussions in this regard. I understand that this facility is expected to be operational by 2015.