Kieran O'Donnell: Government Defends Cancer Investment and Reform

Thanks very much Ciann Comhairle and I move the government amendment. I welcome the opportunity this evening to discuss cancer service on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and can I join with you Ciann Comhairle on Deputy Gould's personal account. I'm glad to see you doing so well and can I join with other colleagues across the house in acknowledging the great work of all health care, medical, nursing, administrative staff, people working in the kitchens throughout our health service, the fantastic work they do. This year will mark the 13th anniversary of the launch of Ireland's first national cancer strategy and is an opportune time to reflect on the progress that has been made since 1996 to look ahead as to how we advance and build upon what has already been achieved. The government recognised the objective of the opposition's Sinn Féin motion in seeking to provide the best possible care for cancer patients now into the future and many of the points you've raised obviously they will be brought back to to to the Minister Carroll MacNeill as well. All of us in the house share that goal and are working to ensure the very best outcomes for patients and their families. However the government are opposing the motion and entabling a counter motion setting out our clear commitment and the detailed actions we're taking to drive further improvements in cancer services now and into the future. It's important to point out that the opposition Sinn Féin motion does not recognise the level of investment and funding provided under the current cancer strategy with 105 million allocated to new developments along with 44 million and cancer research funding, 140 million in capital projects and 645 million in cancer drugs between 2021 and 2024. Notably the motion attempts to place slanted care wait time targets into law, a measure which this house debated in the voters not to support just four months ago. Under epidemiology with over 24,000 invasive cancer diagnosed each year the National Cancer Register predicts that one in two people will receive a cancer in their lifetime and someone already referenced that member. While a large proportion of cancers are preventable the reality is that aging is a key driving factor behind the increase in cancers. As the Irish population ages and grows the number of people diagnosed with invasive cancer is expected to grow by between 50 and 100% over the 30 year period from 2015 to 2045. Alongside an increase in numbers the cancer burden is rapidly expanding as it becomes for many people a chronic disease that they live with for many years. Fortunately this is a good marker as the number of people surviving a cancer diagnosis is growing at the same time, all the time. In the latest reporting period 2019 to 2022 over 65% of patients were alive five years after a cancerous diagnosis up from 43% in the 1994 to 1998 period. Over 220,000 patients are alive today having received a cancer diagnosis at some point. We have seen very good progress in the detection and treatment of many of our most common cancers. In the case of breast cancer for example five years net survival has grown from 71% for 1994-1998 period to 87.5% for 2019-2022 period. Breast cancer survivors are the largest cancer survivor group in Ireland representing 22% of all cancer survivors and nearly 50,000 women. For prostate cancer we've seen the five-year survivor rate go from 66% in the early 1990s to 93% in the most recent data and we now have 46,500 survivors of prostate cancer. Of course far too many people still have their lives cut short by cancer and I join deputies across the house in wishing to assure the health services strive to deliver the very best cancer care for patients. The progress we have made would not have been possible without the evidence-based whole population approach taken under three consecutive decades spanning national cancer strategies. The international evidence demonstrates that sustained progress in cancer control is best attributed to consistent implementation of appropriately designed and resourced cancer strategies. Research published by the Lancet in 2022 reported that Ireland's cancer strategies dating back to 1996 were a significant factor in improving cancer outcomes. Furthermore a study published by Professor Mark Lawlor in January of this year in the Journal of Cancer Policy evaluated national cancer strategies across 20 countries and ranked Ireland amongst the highest in policy development and government scores. The EU and the WHO continue to advise that cancer control is optimised to development in potential national cancer control plans and strategies. Thankfully many patients become cancer-free following their treatment but for others the cancer will become a chronic condition requiring prolonged surveillance and episodes of treatment over many years with the associated implications for service demand. With the development of the next cancer strategy we will continue to progress our structured and strategic approach to delivery of cancer services. In terms of investment, investment under strategy ensures that more patients are being seen in specialist centres, more patients are being reviewed by multidisciplinary teams, new drugs and therapies are being made available, patients are receiving better support during their cancer treatment and psycho-oncology services have been developed and major advances have been delivered for adolescents and young adults. In terms of workforce our investment infrastructure research medicines and staff focuses on providing the best possible outcomes for patients however these improves not realised without the commitment of those working in our health service and dedication to bring to work which I've already alluded and many others have as well. In the past five years we've increased the overall health workforce 27% to launch the current national cancer strategy, we've added over 200,000 additional nursing staff, 100 consultants, 180 health and social care professionals in designated cancer centres. At the beginning, at the same time we fostered and expanded pioneering services creating new roles and teams in psycho-oncology, genetic services and cancer prevention. Significant progress is also being made working in collaboration with the higher education sector, increasing the number of student training places. My colleague Minister Lawless recently announced 28.5 million investment in 2026 to support delivery of more than 1,100 additional health care training places annually over the next three years across medicine, nursing, therapy professions, pharmacy and dentistry. While we're adding more training places and funding more students we also are ensuring that more graduates are retained in our health service. A mandate was introduced in March of last year in 2025 offering all nursing and midwifery and health and social care professions graduates of Irish colleges permanent contracts employment when successful at interview. This mandate includes radiation therapists and radiography graduates crucial for cancer services. In parallel with an increase in staff numbers it's important we maximise the existing workforce. Expansion and rollout of the public-only consulting contract along with the revised 25 framework agreement with health sector trade unions provides a strong platform to support the extension of services. Health regions are actively leveraging these arrangements of progress delivery of services in the evenings and weekends across a range of areas including diagnostics, patient pathways and community services. In terms of infrastructure and technology as we invest in staff and expertise we're also investing heavily in infrastructure and technology. Major infrastructure projects opened under the National Cancer Strategy includes state-of-the-art radiotherapy centres in Cork and Galway in 19 and 23 reflected a cost of over 120 million and established our national survival screening laboratory which opened in December of 22. The 2025 national development plan review so it's a large level capital investment plan in the history of the state. A large investment in health infrastructure in the state. Investment in cancer care is a key strategic priority in particular equipment for radiation oncology. Through the national plan for radiation oncology the Department of Health is placing a major equipment replacement expansion program including replacing 14 linear accelerators, St. Luke's radiation oncology network and adding two at Beaumont with associated diagnostic upgrades. Can I uncorrelate the limited time I have? I'll read the rest and I go straight to the closing. Count Corla I would like once again to thank the deputies for the opportunity to discuss cancer care for patients in Ireland. The progress we have made and our commitment to continuing tenurely improve cancer services in Ireland. I want to acknowledge our shared commitment to improve the lives of cancer patients. On behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health Jennifer Carmacneil TD I'd ask deputies to support the government's counter motion. Thank you.