Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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221. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any increase or perceived increase in the number of persons since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, or any increase or perceived increase in the number of persons diagnosed with stage four cancer since the start of the pandemic; if he will provide any data or statistics held by his Department which detail annual trends in cancer diagnosis over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55547/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) has a statutory obligation to collate information in relation to national cancer incidence across all tumour types. This information will typically only be made available 2 to 3 years after the year of incidence, in keeping with international standards.

There has been a drop in number of cases of cancers registered in 2020, documented in NCRI annual reports for 2021, 2022, 2023, and in a supplementary report published in June 2023. The NCRI continues to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer in Ireland.

Due to population increases and ageing, the number of cases of cancer is expected to increase each year, usually by about 2-3%. It is estimated that the total number of invasive cancers (excluding NMSC) in 2021 was 4% below what would have been expected, based on the trends that were happening prior to the pandemic up to 2019.

Data on stage of cancer takes longer to compile than numbers of new diagnoses. For most cancers the most recent stage data that is available is for cases diagnosed in 2017/2018. However, the NCRI is currently conducting a specific research project on the impact of COVID-19 on four cancers (breast, colorectal, lung and melanoma) which is looking at stage at diagnosis up to 2020. The NCRI will publish it's findings from this project in due course.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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222. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of persons diagnosed with cancer in the State by cancer-type, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form, (details supplied). [55548/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) has a statutory obligation to collate information in relation to national cancer incidence across all tumour types. This information will typically only be made available 2 to 3 years after the year of incidence, in keeping with international standards.

Successive National Cancer Strategies have delivered continuing improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients in terms of earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and improved rates of survival.

NCRI data shows substantial progress being made to control the four major cancers (prostate, breast, lung and colorectal), with mortality rates falling or stabilising for each. These comprise over half of all invasive tumours (not including rarely fatal non-melanoma skin cancers).

The NCRI published its "2022 Annual Statistical Report: Cancer in Ireland 1994-2021" this month. This report on the status of cancer in Ireland includes updated statistics on cancer incidence, mortality and survival for patients diagnosed in Ireland 1994 – 2021.

Key findings include:

About 215,000 cancer patients or former cancer patients were alive in Ireland at the end of 2021 (about 4.3% or 1 in 23 of the Irish population). This reflects the ongoing improvement in cancer survival.

For all invasive cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers), five-year net survival averaged 65% for patients diagnosed during 2014-2018, compared with only 44% for those diagnosed during 1994-1998.

More complete data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnoses indicates that the pandemic resulted in a 10% reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2020, and a 4% reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2021, compared to what was expected for those years. It had previously been estimated that there was 14% reduction in cancer diagnoses 2020 and a 6% decrease in cancer diagnoses in 2021.

Preliminary data for 2022 shows a 2% reduction in microscopically verified cancer diagnoses compared to projections, however the dataset for this year is not yet complete.

In answer to the Deputy's queries a table is attached with numbers of cases diagnosed each year for 2012-2021 which has been provided by the NCRI. Data for 2022 has not been finalised yet and data for 2023 will not be available until 2025.