James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a detailed update on the roll-out of the national network for radiation oncology services including, in tabular form, a breakdown of the total number and location of linear accelerators in the country, at both public and private facilities, at the time of the announcement of the national network for radiation oncology plan in 2005; the total number of linear accelerators procured since the announcement of the plan including the location of these new accelerators and the money invested to date; if she will provide an update on the number of linear accelerators that have yet to be purchased; the proposed location for same; the cost for same; the way these facilities will be funded; the revised deadlines for completion of the plan; the details of existing radiotherapy arrangements with private facilities; the arrangements in place with the Northern Ireland health authorities for services for patients in the North West; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25252/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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In 2005, as set out in the following table, there were six linear accelerators in St Luke's Hospital, Rathgar, four in Cork University Hospital (CUH) and three at Galway University Hospital (GUH). At present, there are 15 linear accelerators in the public system; eight at St Luke's, four at CUH and three at GUH. The increase in capacity at St Luke's follows the commissioning of two new and two replacement linear accelerators in 2008, to provide interim capacity pending the roll-out of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO). Agreements are in place under which the National Cancer Control Programme purchases services for HSE patients from the south-east and the mid-west from private facilities in Waterford and Limerick.

On completion of Phase 1 of the NPRO at the end of this year, radiation oncology services will be provided at new facilities in Beaumont and St James's Hospital, with four linear accelerators in each. On completion of the two new facilities, some staff and resources from St Luke's will transfer to the new centres and the three facilities will form the St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network for Dublin Mid-Leinster and Dublin North-East. This will provide adequate capacity to deal with patient needs until at least 2015. As regards the number of linear accelerators in the private system, this is a matter for the providers of those services.

* As the eight new linear accelerators in Beaumont and St James's are commissioned, older machines at St Luke's will be decommissioned, leaving a total of 12 linear accelerators in the St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network. This is a net increase of four on the current numbers.

The NPRO provides for the national infrastructure for radiation oncology for the next 25 years. A total of approximately €75.5m in capital funding will be spent by end 2010 on the NPRO. This includes the four linear accelerators provided for St Luke's in 2008, the new facilities at St James's and Beaumont Hospitals and preparations for Phase 2 of the Plan.

On completion of the NPRO, it will provide a fully integrated national solution to deliver equity of access for patients irrespective of geographic location. Phase 2 of the NPRO, presently under consideration, will be delivered through Public Private Partnership and will provide additional capacity at St James's and Beaumont Hospitals, GUH and CUH. Satellite centres will be developed at the MidWestern Regional Hospital in Limerick and at Waterford Regional Hospital. Details of additional linear accelerators or costs of these plans must remain confidential until completion of the procurement process for these facilities, which awaits the Government's consideration of the Public Sector Benchmark for the Plan.

Government also agreed in 2005 that the best option for patients in the NorthWest was to facilitate access for those patients to radiation oncology services as part of North/South cooperation on cancer. Accordingly, patients may be referred from Letterkenny General Hospital in Donegal to Belfast City Hospital. Also, following the announcement of Minister McGimpsey of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland of the provision of a satellite radiotherapy centre, linked to Belfast City Hospital, at Altnagelvin, I undertook to make a capital contribution towards the project in addition to meeting the ongoing costs of patients from the Republic. The business case for the project has been finalised and a decision is awaited from the Northern Ireland authorities. I understand that the facility is expected to be operational by 2015.