Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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1059. To ask the Minister for Health if he will meet with representatives of a group (details supplied) to discuss the appointment of a new expert medical oncologist with sarcoma specific experience equal to or greater than the expert that previously treated patients at St Vincent's University Hospital. [26741/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1087. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to hire a new expert medical oncologist with sarcoma specific experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26811/17]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1269. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to meet with an organisation (details supplied); if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27680/17]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1270. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment process further to the commitment he gave in 2016 regarding the appointment of a medical oncologist with sarcoma specific experience equal to or greater than the expert that treated persons at St Vincent's University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27681/17]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1569. To ask the Minister for Health if he will meet with representatives of a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28964/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1059, 1087, 1269, 1270 and 1569 together.

I met with members of the Sarcoma Action Group last year, as well as with representatives from the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme and St Vincent's University Hospital, and engaged in discussions in relation to the provision of sarcoma services in Ireland, and in particular the service delivered at St Vincent's.

St Vincent's University Hospital has provided highly specialised and individualised treatment to sarcoma sufferers for a number of years.

Following the meeting last year, the recruitment of an additional post of consultant medical oncologist with a special interest in sarcoma, based in St. Vincent’s University Hospital, was prioritised to facilitate further development of the service there. St Vincent's University Hospital is responsible for the recruitment process. The Department has been advised that, following interviews for the post, a successful candidate has been identified and an appointment will be made in due course. In the interim, patients requiring treatment for sarcoma cancer will continue to receive high quality care at St Vincent’s Hospital with care being managed by one of the hospital’s full-time oncologists.