Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1144. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of two machines (one for radiation therapy and one CT scanner) being off in University Hospital Galway as they cannot be staffed, while two more machines are being tendered for; the measures he is taking in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44499/24]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1145. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of a waiting list for radiation in men diagnosed with prostate cancer in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44500/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1144 and 1145 together.

In Budget 2025, €23 million has been secured for the National Cancer Strategy, including access to new cancer medicines, expansion of cancer screening, funding for community cancer support centres, and implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. This will mean over €105 million has been invested into the Strategy since 2017.

Capital funding of over €140 million has been provided under the current National Cancer Strategy to deliver state of the art radiation oncology facilities in Galway and Cork, to update cancer infrastructure in chemotherapy wards and lab facilities for the benefit of patients, as well as investment in the new National Cervical Screening Laboratory.

Further expansion of radiotherapy capacity in Ireland is required, to meet expected demand nationally, and the centre in Galway was built to accommodate a total of 6 linear accelerators and has 4 currently. It is expected that 60% of cancer patients will require radiotherapy treatment and the incidence of cancer is increasing, so it is important for our national radiotherapy services to plan ahead.

I am aware that there are currently vacancies among radiation therapist roles in the radiation oncology centre in University Hospital Galway. I am advised that there are two open recruitment campaigns ongoing for Clinical Specialist Radiation Therapists and Radiation Therapists to address these vacancies. While there are still vacancies, this means that some machines have down-time, during which they undergo regularly scheduled maintenance.

The National Radiotherapist Review was finalised earlier in the year and is now being implemented. The Review’s recommendations aim to help address issues of recruitment and retention in this profession. Measures in Budget 2025 include funding for advanced practice radiotherapy posts, and the Department of Health is working with the HSE with regard to establishing clinical learning supports aligned with clinical placement provision in each of the five radiation oncology sites nationally.