Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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858. To ask the Minister for Health if radiography treatment will be resumed at Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry to facilitate cross-Border patient treatment, given the shared island Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34141/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of radiotherapy services for Irish patients at the North West Cancer Centre (NWCC), Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry, continued throughout the Covid-19 period.

Since the centre opened in 2016, over 900 patients from Ireland have received radiotherapy treatment at the NWCC. In 2021, 253 Irish patients were treated at the NWCC, an increase of 53 on 2020. From January - March 2022, 72 Irish patients were treated at the NWCC, an increase of 26 on the same period in 2021.

This cross-border initiative ensures that patients can receive their radiotherapy treatment as close to home as possible. The reduction in travel time, and the overall ease of access, has been hugely beneficial for patients, their families and carers.

I look forward to the continuation of this service and exploring new ways in which cross-border collaboration, such as the NWCC, can lead to continued improvements for patients and their families.