Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
817. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her Department has begun planning for the next national cancer strategy, as the current one expires in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57029/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy, improving cancer care, ensuring better prevention, maintaining improvements in survival rates and timely access to treatments. Over the course of the current Strategy, the investment in cancer services has led to significant improvements in the outcomes for patients. Survival rates have improved greatly and OECD data shows that cancer mortality rates in Ireland are falling faster than the EU27 average and faster than our economic peers. When the National Cancer Strategy was launched in 2017 the number of people alive, having received a cancer diagnosis, was 150,000. Over the course of the Strategy that has now reached over 220,000. It is important that the Strategy's recommendations continue to be implemented in 2026. An evaluation of the Strategy will be carried out and this will inform the next steps to be taken.
