Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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685. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who attended a rapid access lung clinic for a diagnostic test in each month from January 2018 to date; the percentage of these appointments that were seen within the recommended timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9176/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued provision of cancer care as a priority. Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).

The performance of each Hospital in meeting target times for rapid access clinic (RAC) appointments is monitored by the NCCP and reviewed at monthly meetings with the Department of Health - with the latest KPI data and RAC attendance figures being available up to December 2021.

The attendances across all Rapid Access Lung Clinics, and the percentage of these appointments seen within the timeframe recommended under the KPI, is as follows for 2018-2021:

Attendances at rapid access lung clinics in 2021 were at 102% of 2019 (pre-covid) levels.

The Government has provided significant extra funding for cancer services in Ireland. Funding of €5m has been provided in 2022 to continue the work of supporting cancer services and increasing capacity in the context of Covid-19. This is in addition to the €12m allocated in 2021. This funding is facilitating additional clinics and the extension of clinic times, as well as allowing for minor infrastructural works to be carried out and for locum and temporary staff to be recruited to support the delivery of services.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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686. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who received a diagnostic test at a rapid access lung clinic in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the percentage of these patients who received a diagnosis of cancer in tabular form. [9177/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The number of attendances across all Rapid Access Lung Clinics, and the percentage of these appointments in which a patient received a diagnosis of cancer, is as follows for 2018-2020.

Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). The NCCP is continuing to closely monitor trends in numbers coming forward to diagnostic services, and the level of attendances for appointments for treatment.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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687. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who attended a rapid access prostate clinic for a diagnostic test in each month from January 2018 to date; the percentage of these appointments that were seen within the recommended timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9178/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued provision of cancer care as a priority. Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).

The performance of each Hospital in meeting target times for rapid access clinic (RAC) appointments is monitored by the NCCP and reviewed at monthly meetings with the Department of Health - with the latest KPI data and RAC attendance figures being available up to December 2021.

The attendances across all Rapid Access Prostate Clinics, and the percentage of these appointments seen within the timeframe recommended under the KPI (90% within 20 days of referral), is as follows for 2018-2021.

">Attendance at rapid access prostate clinics

Attendances at rapid access prostate clinics in 2021 were at 95% of 2019 (pre-covid) levels.

The Government has provided significant extra funding for cancer services in Ireland. Funding of €5m has been provided in 2022 to continue the work of supporting cancer services and increasing capacity in the context of Covid-19. This is in addition to the €12m allocated in 2021. This funding is facilitating additional clinics and the extension of clinic times, as well as allowing for minor infrastructural works to be carried out and for locum and temporary staff to be recruited to support the delivery of services.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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688. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who received a diagnostic test at a rapid access prostate clinic in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the percentage of these patients who received a diagnosis of cancer in tabular form. [9179/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The number of attendances across all Rapid Access Prostate Clinics, and the percentage of these appointments in which a patient received a diagnosis of cancer, is as follows for 2018-2020.

Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme is continuing to closely monitor trends in numbers coming forward to diagnostic services, and the level of attendances for appointments for treatment.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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689. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic for a diagnostic test in each month from January 2018 to date; the percentage of these appointments that were seen within the recommended timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9180/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). The performance of each Hospital in meeting target times for Rapid Access Clinic (RAC) appointments is monitored by the NCCP and reviewed at monthly meetings with the Department of Health - with the latest KPI data and RAC attendance figures being available up to December 2021.

The attendances across urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics, and the percentage of these appointments seen within the timeframe recommended under their respective KPI (95% within 10 days of referral), is as follows for 2018-2021:

"> Attended a breast disease clinic

It is important to note that 2021 attendances at urgent Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics were at 121% of 2019 (pre-Covid) levels.

The Government has provided significant extra funding for cancer services in Ireland. Funding of €5m has been provided in 2022 to continue the work of supporting cancer services and increasing capacity in the context of Covid-19. This is in addition to the €12m allocated in 2021. This funding is facilitating additional clinics and the extension of clinic times, as well as allowing for minor infrastructural works to be carried out and for locum and temporary staff to be recruited to support the delivery of services.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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690. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who received a diagnostic test at a symptomatic breast disease clinic in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the percentage of these patients who received a diagnosis of cancer in tabular form. [9181/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The number of attendances whose referrals were triaged as urgent across all Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics, and the percentage of these appointments in which a patient received a diagnosis of cancer, is as follows for 2018-2020.

Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). The NCCP is continuing to closely monitor trends in numbers coming forward to diagnostic services, and the level of attendances for appointments for treatment.