Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
641. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to implement the necessary measures to improve cancer services across the country and save lives (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53395/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to improving cancer care, ensuring better prevention, maintaining improvements in cancer survival rates, and ensuring timely access to treatments.
In Budget 2025, €23 million was provided for implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. This means that over €105 million has been invested into the Strategy since 2017, funding access to new cancer medicines, expansion of cancer screening, community cancer support centres, and implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. This investment has resulted in improvements right across the continuum of cancer care from prevention to screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and palliative care.
Capital funding of over €140 million has been provided under the National Cancer Strategy since 2017 to provide state of the art radiation oncology facilities in Galway and Cork, to establish a National Cervical Screening Laboratory, and to update cancer infrastructure in chemotherapy wards and lab facilities.
Cancer research funding totalling €43.7 million has been paid out by the Health Research Board since 2020, including, €21.6 million for clinical trials infrastructure.
While continuing to strive for further improvement, Ireland has a strong performance compared to other European countries in reducing the rate of deaths from cancer. Cancer mortality rates in Ireland are falling faster than the EU27 average and faster than our economic peers. Survival rates for patients have improved greatly under the changes brought about since the first National Cancer Strategy, with 65% for patients who received a cancer diagnosis in the period 2014-2018 surviving for at least 5 years, compared to 44% 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. For 2025, €5.5 million has been allocated for these centres.
The Government has invested heavily in the National Cancer Strategy and associated initiatives in recent years, enabling the further development of national and regional cancer services, and leading to improved outcomes for cancer patients.
In Budget 2026, funding of €27.4 billion is being provided to support the delivery of health services. This represents an increase of 6.2% and will enable the HSE to expand services and recruit additional staff, improving the care provided to patients and their families.
