Vol. 536 No. 5
240 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has identified the need to enhance the National Cancer Registry with particular reference to the need to expand the ser vice in order to obtain a greater degree of statistical data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15063/01]
The National Cancer Registry was established in 1991 by statutory instrument. The statutory functions of the National Cancer Registry Board are: to identify, collect, classify, record, store and analyse information relating to the incidence and prevalence of cancer and related tumours in Ireland; to collect, classify, record and store information in relation to each newly diagnosed individual cancer patient and in relation to each tumour which occurs; to promote and facilitate the use of the data thus collected in approved research and in the planning and management of services; to publish an annual report based on the activities of the registry; and to furnish advice, information and assistance in relation to any aspect of such service to the Minister. The resources provided by my Department have allowed the National Cancer Registry to carry out all of these functions to the satisfaction of the Board and to provide a high quality registration service. Independent assessment of the registry by the International Agency for Research on Cancer has shown its data to be up to the best international standards and this data has been included in a number of international publications and databases.
