Helen Keogh
Question:54 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the capital provisions he has made for equipment for the treatment of cancer in 1997 and subsequent years under the terms of the national strategy for cancer treatment. [10387/97]
Written Answers. - National Cancer Strategy.
Limerick East): I announced a major action plan last month giving details of how the National Cancer Strategy will be implemented. The plan will be phased in over a period of three years, commencing this year, and involves extra running costs of £22 million when fully operational in 1999. In addition, the capital costs arising from the strategy will amount to an estimated £3.25 million.
The timing of the capital expenditure will depend on the requirements of the services as developments are put in place. To date, I have approved a capital grant of £300,000 for the refurbishment of the premises in Eccles Street which will accommodate the headquarters of the national breast screening programme. I will make capital grants available under the National Cancer Strategy for equipment and other costs in the areas of oncology, haematology, palliative care, breast screening and for the implementation of guidelines on the administration of chemotherapy which I published with the strategy.
In addition to the capital provisions being made specifically under the National Cancer Strategy, I have also made provision for capital funding for other cancer related developments. These include £2.5 million for a purpose built nursing unit and hospice facility at Milford Hospice and the ongoing development of facilities at St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin. To date a total of £3 million has been spent on additional radiotherapy equipment at St. Luke's.