Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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609. To ask the Minister for Health her views on reports that four linear accelerators in Dublin, Cork and Galway were not in use in Autumn 2024 due to staffing shortages; and the position regarding these linear accelerators now. [4165/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2025, €23 million was secured for the National Cancer Strategy, including 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.

There are set targets for access to Rapid Access Clinics, Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics, and Radiotherapy. Many centres routinely meet their targets in relation to performance across all cancer care indicators, including in radiotherapy.

Linear accelerators, or linacs, are the machines used to deliver radiotherapy. The workload and capacity of these machines is dependent on a number of factors, such as operating hours, staffing, and downtime for routine maintenance. Utilisation of linacs is optimised by services, giving due consideration to these factors.

Funding was allocated in 2025 to support actions arising from the Radiation Therapist Review. This investment includes funding for eight additional staff for radiation therapy services and funding for six advanced practice posts for radiation therapy to implement one of the recommendations of the recently finalised National Radiation Therapist Review.

Recruitment of staff can be challenging across many professions in the health service. However, the number of radiation therapists in public radiotherapy centres has increased in recent months, resulting in more people starting treatment within target time. As part of the question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.