Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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679.To ask the Minister for Health the procedures used for the allocation of beds in the cancer care centre at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24638/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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680.To ask the Minister for Health the measures being taken to urgently remediate the systemic problem at the cancer care centre at University Hospital Galway, where patients are regularly experiencing delays in cancer treatment, to fulfil its mandate to operate as a centre of excellence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24639/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Health, I have supported the National Cancer Strategy with substantial funding of €50m for national cancer treatment and screening. There has been over €300m in cumulative additional funding for cancer treatment services allocated to the Strategy since 2017.

This funding has enabled the recruitment of more than 670 staff to our national cancer services since 2017, including an additional 200 nursing staff, 100 consultants, and 180 health and social care professionals in designated cancer centres. This means that our national cancer services have been strengthened, that more patients are receiving treatment, and that waiting times to access treatment are reduced.

University Hospital Galway (UHG) is one of eight adult designated cancer centres and provides cancer care services in the West and Northwest. Among the cancer control services provided in UHG are the Symptomatic Breast Disease clinic and Rapid Access Clinics for Lung and Prostate, which provide access to diagnostics for people with a suspected cancer, as well as access to medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology.

In 2023, construction on a new €70m radiation oncology centre in UHG was completed and I officially opened the facility in October 2023. The newly built radiotherapy unit will lead to an increase in capacity for radiotherapy treatments. The new technology available in the centre also significantly increases the ability to accurately target and treat tumors. This will ensure equal access to cutting edge therapies for patients throughout Ireland.

Performance at cancer centres is closely monitored by the National Cancer Control Programme, who have a monthly performance dialogue with officials from my Department. Any issues of performance are addressed by the Programme who engage with the cancer centres.

As part of this question relates to a service matter, I have referred this part of the question to the HSE for direct reply as soon as possible.