Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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684. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware that Cobh has been found to have the highest rate of cancer per capita in the State with the rate of prostate cancer 71 per cent higher than the State average; his plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12826/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There is no newly published report setting out higher rates of cancer in the Cobh area. The National Cancer Registry is the statutory agency with responsibility for the collection and analysis of data relating to number of cancer cases. Analysis conducted by the Registry for the periods 1994-2007 and 2004-2013 indicated that Cobh Urban Electoral District had a higher cancer incidence rate than the national rate.

In relation to prostate cancer, the 1994-2007 figures showed that Cobh Urban had rates significantly higher than the national rate. While the 2004-2013 figures also showed a higher rate for Cobh Urban, the disparity from the national rate was less.

Cancer incidence is reported as average figures and there will always be local variations above and below the average. This is particularly true when looking at a small population area, such as Cobh, relative to the national population.

My Department is currently developing a new National Cancer Strategy 2016 - 2025 which is likely to focus on prevention, early diagnosis, further improvements in treatment, rare cancers, survivorship and high quality, patient-centred care. This Strategy will be published in the coming months.