Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Health if the target to ensure that cancer referrals from a general practitioner into a hospital will be made electronically and each hospital group will facilitate the phasing-in of e-referral by the end of 2022 is still on track as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56391/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The electronic GP referral system is active in all Hospital Groups. In 2020, a total of 52,343 electronic cancer referrals were received.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, e-referral and attendance data suggests that almost all GP referrals to symptomatic breast, lung and prostate cancer rapid access services are now being sent electronically. It is anticipated that the end 2022 target will be met for all cancer referrals.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Health if public sector radiation oncology facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway have been expanded to meet patient demand; if a planned national programme of equipment refreshment and replacement has been implemented as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56392/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026and the National Programme for Radiation Oncology (NPRO) provide the strategic direction for the provision of radiation oncology services in Ireland.

Under the NPRO, public sector radiation oncology facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway are being expanded to meet patient demand. Much progress has been made in the expansion of these facilities in recent years as follows:

- Cork University Hospital (CUH) - the construction, clinical commissioning and full transition to a new radiation oncology facility at CUH was recently completed.

- University Hospital Galway - the construction of a new Radiation Oncology Unit is underway. Full opening of the new facility, including clinical commissioning, is expected in 2023.

- Beaumont Hospital - Initial design work on the expansion of the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology facility at Beaumont Hospital has been completed, a planning application has been lodged and work is ongoing on the room design for the new facility.

Furthermore, a business case for an equipment replacement programme over a number of years in the St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network (Beaumont, St James's and St Lukes, Rathgar) has been approved and work is progressing towards implementation.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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247. To ask the Minister for Health if plans are in place to establish an age-appropriate facility designated for adolescents and young adults with cancer within the new national children’s hospital as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56393/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated, the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 recommends the designation of an age appropriate facility for adolescents and young adults with cancer within the new Children's Hospital.

The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has advised that the new Children's Hospital at St James's will provide age appropriate facilities and will increase inpatient cancer capacity by 50%. Furthermore, Adolescent and Young Adult beds will increase from 2 to 6, and the facilities will feature a den for Adolescent and Young Adult patients that is aimed at meeting some of the particular needs of this age group.

In 2019, a Clinical Lead for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (CAYA) was appointed within the NCCP. Since then, a scoping exercise of current CAYA cancer services has been completed. Also, the NCCP established a CAYA Cancer Clinical Leads Group in April 2019 to oversee and implement the recommendations of the National Cancer Strategy and to enhance the delivery of care to Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with cancer nationally.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has established a cancer patient advisory committee to provide input into the development of programmes for patients with cancer as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56394/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Cancer Patient Advisory Committee was established by my Department in January 2019, in line with Recommendation 39 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. The Committee is comprised of 15 members of the public, primarily people who have direct experience of cancer treatment as a patient (both current and in the past), as well as people who have supported a family member (typically a child) through cancer treatment.

The Committee meets on a quarterly basis, meeting virtually through the Covid-19 pandemic. An official of the Department chairs the Committee, and secretarial services are provided by the Department. A representative of the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme attends meetings of the Committee.

The Terms of Reference of the Committee are:

- To facilitate a patient input to the oversight of the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026;

- To provide input into the development of programmes for patients with cancer (e.g. in relation to survivorship/quality of life); and

- To consider how the patient input into cancer services can be facilitated more broadly in line with the objectives of the National Cancer Strategy.

My Department will shortly be seeking expressions of interest for membership of the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee to fill vacancies arising as the terms of some members come to an end.

Further information on the Committee can be found at www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/1942d8-cancer-patient-advisory-committee/.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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249. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has reviewed the scope of the national cancer registry with a view to increasing and optimising the use of available data to drive improvements in cancer care for patients as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56395/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) is charged with collecting and classifying information on all cancer cases that occur in Ireland. NCRI data is used widely in the development of cancer services, service planning and in monitoring progress being made under the National Cancer Strategy.

The NCRI Strategic Plan 2020-2022, launched in September 2020, sets out the high-level goals of the NCRI over 3 years. The Strategic Plan facilitates an enhanced contribution to the development of cancer policy by the NCRI and will enable the NCRI to more effectively address its core functions, while expanding the cancer patient data it collects.

The strategic priorities for the NCRI, as laid out in the plan, cover:

- Data Capture;

- Information Communication; and

- Organisational Development.

The Strategic Plan focuses on increasing and optimising the uses of available data to drive improvements in cancer care for patients. It is available at

www.ncri.ie/sites/ncri/files/pubs/strategic-plans/NCRI%20Strategic%20Plan%202020%20-%202022.pdf

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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250. To ask the Minister for Health if the appropriate endoscopy capacity is being provided in hospitals to allow for the expansion of BowelScreen to all persons aged between 55 to 74 years of age by year end 2021 as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56396/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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251. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has liaised with the health and education authorities to increase places in third-level institutions for the training of radiographers and sonographers as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56397/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health engages with health and education authorities on an on-going basis regarding issues of relevance to cancer care.

There has been a considerable increase in the places in third-level institutions for the training of radiographers since the launch of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.

In 2018, the number of places on the undergraduate degree programme in radiography provided by University College Dublin was increased from approximately 45 to 100 per year, in line with increasing demand. This will start to impact on the availability of radiographers from mid-2022.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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252. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has ensured that investment in infrastructure, facilities, personnel and programmes in the designated cancer centres will have a goal of ultimately developing at least one comprehensive cancer care centre that will optimise cancer prevention, treatment, education and research during the strategy period as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56398/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight Designated Cancer Centres serving a defined population and geographic area. The centralisation of specialist servicesinto Designated Cancer Centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports.

As indicated, the National Cancer Strategy recommends that investment in the Designated Cancer Centres will have the goal of ultimately establishing at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre. The Department of Health and the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme have commenced consideration of the steps required towards the implementation of this recommendation. Decisions on the establishment of at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre during the Strategy period will be made in the light of available resources and developments in the best performing centres worldwide. This has always been seen as something that would be progressed in the latter part of the Strategy period.

The development of a Comprehensive Cancer Centre is included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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253. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has ensured that patient representatives are involved in policy making, planning, practice and oversight of cancer services at local, regional and national levels as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56399/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, working closely with the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), strives to ensure that patient representatives are included in policy making, planning, practice and oversight of cancer services. In particular, the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee, established by the Department, plays an important role in this regard.

Wide consultation and collaboration with patient groups and advocacy organisations takes place on an on-going basis. Patients are involved through participation in working groups, regular consultation, and the appointment of patient representatives to projects. The NCCP maintains a formal policy on patient engagement, and has a Patient Engagement Manager who co-ordinates and monitors partnerships of patients and projects. In addition, many projects and initiatives are opened for public consultations that are advertised through print and social media, as well as disseminated through the NCCP’s communication networks.

My Department and the NCCP consider engaging with cancer patients to be an integral element of the work to implement the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.