Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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503. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the National Cancer Strategy; the level of funding that has been provided to the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45894/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

This is the third National Cancer Strategy, and the success of the strategic approach to cancer is shown by the number of patients living after receiving a cancer diagnosis which has increased to over 215,000 people, compared to 150,000 when the Strategy was brought to Government in 2017. Survival rates for patients diagnosed with cancer have continued to improve, with 65% of patients living five years after being diagnosed with cancer between the years 2014-2018, compared to 44% diagnosed in 1994-1998. This improvement in survival rates is supported by findings of the National Cancer Registry Ireland, which collects population-based data on all cancer incidence, treatment, and survival in Ireland.

Supports are being provided for people living with and beyond cancer in the local community through the Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres, which has been allocated €5.5m in funding for 2025.

This Government has invested heavily in the National Cancer Strategy and associated initiatives in recent years, enabling the further development of our national cancer services, and leading to improved outcomes for cancer patients.