Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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157. To ask the Minister for Health the status of recommendation 15 of the national cancer strategy in respect of a comprehensive cancer care centre; the engagements he has had with an institute (details supplied) regarding its plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61264/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment and is part of the implementation of Sláintecare.

Last week, I published the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 Implementation Report 2021. The Report can be found at:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/f012d-national-cancer-strategy-2017-2026-implementation-report-2021/.

The Report sets out the progress achieved on the improvement of cancer services and the delivery of better outcomes for patients, as set out in the 52 recommendations of the Strategy. It measures the achievement of these recommendations against 23 key performance indicators, which focus on reducing preventable cancer, promoting early detection and driving improvements in treatment and after-care for cancer patients.

Recommendation 15 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 states that the Department of Health will ensure 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.

My Department and the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) continue to consider the steps required towards the implementation of this recommendation. The development of a comprehensive cancer centre will require significant investment and planning by my Department and the NCCP, and I have not engaged with the institute the Deputy mentions on its plans.

In 2021, Ireland became involved in a European Joint Action under the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan on the development of national comprehensive cancer centres and networks across the EU, which will complement ongoing work regarding the development of a comprehensive cancer centre in Ireland over the coming years.