Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Health and Children in reference to the proposed Altnagelvin Hospital radiotherapy unit, to respond to public concern arising from comments made last Friday, 1 October 2010, by Northern Ireland Minister for Health (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35555/10]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will meet with a group (details supplied) at her convenience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35556/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 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 in the short term was to facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital and accordingly, a Service Level Agreement is in place for the referral of radiation oncology patients from Donegal to BCH. This is in addition to the services available at St Luke's Hospital, Dublin and at University Hospital Galway.

The Government also decided in 2005 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. In April 2008, Minister 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. I welcomed the announcement by Minister McGimpsey and officials from my Department and their counterparts in Northern Ireland continue to hold discussions in this regard. I understand that the facility is expected to be operational by 2015.

I met with the group referred to by the Deputy in October last year during which a number of issues were discussed, including the development at Altnagelvin. My Department has also been in correspondence with the group within the past year. It remains the position that the Business Case for the development has now been finalised and is awaiting approval by Minister McGimpsey.

My Department and the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme have nominated representatives to the Cross Border Sub Group, the Project Board and the Service Design and Workforce Planning Subgroup for the development. I have committed to providing a capital contribution to the development, in recognition of the fact that approximately one third of the patients who will attend the Altnagelvin Centre will be from Donegal and the surrounding areas. In addition, the Health Service Executive's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) will contribute on an agreed basis to the operating costs in respect of patients from the Republic of Ireland who attend this service.