Vol. 503 No. 7
105 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to provide linear accelerators in all health board areas as a satellite to a main centre which is now technically feasible and operates in the United States, United Kingdom and Belgium. [11139/99]
Radiotherapy is a highly specialised and capital intensive service. Because of its complexity and the considerable cost involved, there are currently just two public radiotherapy facilities in Ireland. These are in St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin and Cork University Hospital. A major refurbishment and development programme, costing over £20 million, has recently been completed at St. Luke's Hospital. I am also making funds available for the provision of a second linear accelerator for the Radiotherapy Unit at Cork University Hospital. I am pleased to say that a third public radiotherapy facility will be provided as part of the major development of University College Hospital Galway.
I will keep the question of any further developments in radiotherapy services under review.
