Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has given any consideration to a review of her plans for the future of St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42364/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Under the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO), there will be a network of four radiotherapy centres and two satellite radiotherapy centres in Ireland by 2014. This development of radiotherapy services nationally is being achieved on a phased basis. Under Phase 1, new facilities at St. James's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital are almost ready with fit-out to be completed by year-end. Together with St Luke's in Rathgar, these new facilities will form the St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network for Dublin Mid-Leinster and Dublin North-East. Some staff and resources will transfer from St Luke's to the new sites while additional staff, mainly radiation therapists, are also being recruited. To facilitate the operation of the Network, St Luke's was integrated into the HSE on 1 August this year. Under Phase 2, the facilities at St James's, Beaumont, Cork and Galway will be further developed and satellite centres will be developed at Limerick and Waterford. It is intended that services at the existing facility in St Luke's in Dublin will have transferred in full to Beaumont and St James's by the end of 2014. The location of radiotherapy facilities has been chosen based on expert advice and in line with best international practice. It ensures that radiation oncology is integrated with other modalities of cancer care, including surgery and medical oncology. No decisions have yet been taken in relation to the future use of the site and facilities at St. Luke's. However, I am committed to ensuring that these resources are utilised in the best interest of the health services.