Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the running of the cancer care centre at University College Hospital, Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27174/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The 2006 National Cancer Control Strategy set out the rationale for the restructuring of cancer services in our hospitals. It recommended that cancer centres which each serve a minimum population of 500,000 should be designated by the HSE, and that Ireland required about eight such centres. Accordingly, in 2007, the HSE designated eight hospitals as cancer centres, University Hospital Galway being one, and established the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) to implement the Strategy.

Since then, the NCCP has put significant additional resources into cancer service provision at Galway. Rapid Access Clinics for both lung and prostate cancers have opened at the hospital, as part of a national initiative to improve access to diagnosis and multidisciplinary care for these common cancers. Galway's symptomatic breast unit has expanded in recent years and latest data available from the HSE confirms that the hospital is fully compliant with the target two-week waiting time for urgent referrals to its breast unit and also with the 12-week target waiting time for non-urgent referrals. Radiotherapy services are also provided at Galway since 2005.

Should the Deputy wish to raise a specific issue concerning the provision of cancer services at Galway, my Department will arrange for it to be investigated by the HSE-NCCP.