Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

616. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to make proton beam therapy available here. [18185/17]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

617. To ask the Minister for Health if clinical trials for proton beam therapy have taken place here. [18186/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together.

The infrastructure and equipment required for proton beam therapy is hugely expensive and provision of such a facility in Ireland for the number of patients involved is not practical at this time.

In 2015, a total of 22 patients were referred for proton beam therapy in treatment centres abroad under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. This represents an extremely small proportion of Irish patients who are receiving radiotherapy. The National Cancer Control Programme will continue to monitor the number of Irish patients being referred overseas for proton beam therapy, as well as developments in technology that may impact on the viability of providing this treatment here.

As proton beam therapy is not available in Ireland, no clinical trials have taken place here.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

618. To ask the Minister for Health if the Chief Medical Officer is of the view that proton beam therapy is an effective treatment. [18187/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Proton beam therapy is a form of radiotherapy which is only used for treating certain specific cancer types. It is a relatively new form of treatment with narrow indications for use and therefore the evidence base is limited. Decisions relating to appropriate treatment, including radiotherapy, for individual patients with cancer are a matter for clinicians (cancer specialists) in consultation with patients and their families. The very small number of Irish patients (22 in 2015), who are clinically assessed as benefitting from proton beam therapy, avail of the treatment overseas under the HSE’s Treatment Abroad Scheme. Further international research in larger populations is required before the clinical indications for the use of proton beam therapy could be extended.