Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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531. To ask the Minister for Health the full year cost of ensuring the full implementation of the model of care for psycho-oncology services for patients aged 0-24 years. [45924/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In line with Recommendation 12 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) developed and launched the National Model of Care for Psycho-Oncology Services for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (CAYA) with Cancer. This model of care focuses on supporting children and young adults, as well as their families, with the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis and provides for patient pathways to accessing appropriate care at all stages of their cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Implementation of the model of care is ongoing. Funding allocated for the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy in 2022 included €1.5 million for psycho-oncology and CAYA services more generally, enabling the recruitment of an additional 15 staff to these services.

The NCCP is progressing a comprehensive assessment of current resources in the CAYA network. This assessment will ascertain the additional dedicated staff required across disciplines including psychology, neuropsychology, social work, nursing, play and music therapy, occupational therapy, and psychiatry.

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.

Funding to date 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. Investment in 2025 will provide an additional 179 staff for national cancer screening and treatment services. This includes funding for CAYA services and will support the continued implementation of the CAYA Psycho-oncology Model of Care and the National Cancer Control Programme’s (NCCP) A Framework for the care and Support of Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA) with cancer in Ireland 2021 to 2026. Under this Framework, three AYA cancer hubs have been established, based at St James’s Hospital, University Hospital Galway, and Cork University Hospital.

These initiatives under the National Cancer Strategy allow us to address the specific needs of children and young adults with cancer and we will continue to improve the services available to them.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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532. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing equitable universal access to hairpieces and post- mastectomy products including prostheses and specialised bras at the highest rates currently available. [45925/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances under the Community Funded Schemes to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions.

An allowance toward the cost of post-mastectomy products and hair loss products following cancer related treatment has been provided in the past, but there has been variation in the provision across the country.

The estimated cost of providing equitable universal access to such products at the highest rates currently available is €2m.

€2m has been allocated in Budget 2025 to ensure that provision is standardised at the highest level currently available, to all women across the country, regardless of eligibility status.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to cancer survivorship programmes by 10%. [45926/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Maximising the quality of life of those living with and beyond cancer is one of the four pillars of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.

Recommendations in the current Strategy aim to further survivorship supports and services in cancer care in Ireland. This includes the establishment of psycho-oncology services, provision of treatment summary and care plans, and the development of survivorship programmes. In tandem with these developments, in line with recommendation 41 of the Strategy, The National Cancer Survivorship Needs Assessment was carried out and published in 2019. Findings from this assessment have informed the development of survivorship supports.

Survivorship supports are delivered in different settings, such as hospitals, primary care, and in the community, and vary depending on the needs of those availing of these supports. The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has developed and progressed survivorship supports and services. These include the Stratified Self-Managed Follow Up Framework and associated pathways and Treatment Summary & Care Plans for patients, which are presently available to prostate cancer patients work underway to expand this to other tumour types. Survivorship programmes have also been developed by the NCCP for use in Ireland, including Cancer Thriving and Surviving, and the CLIMB programme. These programmes are often delivered in the community in Community Cancer Support Centres.

Community cancer support centres are recognised in the Strategy as a valuable resource, providing access to support to cancer patients and their families outside of the acute care setting. The works closely with a network of Community Cancer Support Centres, particularly in regard to the psycho-oncology model of care and the implementation of survivorship programmes for those living with and beyond cancer.

Community cancer support centres are voluntary and charity organisations delivering services directly to cancer patients and their families that emphasise the importance of quality of life during and after cancer treatment. These services can be availed of free of charge and in local communities. The NCCP Revised Best Practice Guidance for community cancer support centres was published in March 2022. The Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres was also established in 2022. The Alliance is a HSE initiative which aims to develop a collaborative framework for community-based cancer support centres and services. This programme promotes participation in capacity-building activities and communication and networking forums aimed at ensuring that community-based cancer support services are integrated.

In Budget 2025, I secured €23 million for the National Cancer Strategy, including access to new cancer medicines, expansion of cancer screening, and implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. This will mean over €105 million has been invested into the Strategy since 2017. Funding will support new posts which will in turn expand and deliver on existing survivorship supports.

Within the investment secured for 2025 is €5.5 million which will be allocated to Community Cancer Support Centres. This is on the back of an investment in 2024 of €3 million to the Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres, which directly supported survivorship programmes for adults and children, lymphoedema therapy, and other important services in communities throughout Ireland.