Based on the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services, and the fact that the BreastCheck screening programme will significantly reduce the number of symptomatic breast cancer presentations, the Health Service Executive has determined that we require eight specialist breast cancer centres nationally. To comply with the assurance standards, the HSE has directed 17 hospitals to cease breast cancer services. Further staged reductions in the number of hospitals providing breast cancer services will occur over the next year in line with the development of quality assured capacity in the eight centres. The director of the national cancer control programme has confirmed that services from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda will transfer to Beaumont Hospital in September. The Programme will ensure that adequate capacity is in place prior to the transfer of services from Drogheda. The designation of cancer centres aims to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care while at the same time allowing local access to services, where appropriate. Where diagnosis and treatment planning is directed and managed by multidisciplinary teams based at the centres, much of the treatment other than surgery can be delivered in local hospitals, such as Drogheda. Chemotherapy and support services will continue to be delivered locally. The specific questions raised by the Deputy in relation to consultations regarding the transfer of breast cancer services are the responsibility of the HSE under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.