Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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126. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide support for persons that have to travel long distances for cancer treatments across the country from County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27643/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The overall the aim is to ensure that the best possible outcomes are delivered to cancer patients. Patients receive this treatment as close to home as possible, but inevitably long distances will be involved for some.

Arising from the 2006 National Cancer Strategy, cancer services were organised to ensure that patients received treatment in hospitals that had sufficient case volumes, as well as adequate staffing and other resources to deal with these volumes. Eight hospitals are designated as cancer centres, with Letterkenny Breast Cancer Service operating as a satellite of Galway University Hospital. Medical oncology and chemotherapy services are also available at Letterkenny University Hospital.

While the focus of the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) is on improving treatment outcomes, some supports are available for patients travelling from Donegal for cancer treatment, including voluntary and community transport services. The Travel 2 Care scheme, which is part funded by the NCCP and managed by the Irish Cancer Society, is open for applications from patients who are travelling more than 50kms to designated cancer centres.