asked the Minister for Health what amount this country has contributed to cancer research over the past five years; if he is satisfied that the medical profession in this country are kept up to date with developments elsewhere; and if he is satisfied that the Government are spending sufficient money on necessary research.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cancer Research.
107.
The following are details of expenditure over the past 12 months:—
|
Medical Research Council of Ireland |
£14,500 |
|
St. Luke's Hospital (Cancer Research Fund) |
£6,000 |
|
Private Sources |
£40,000(estimated) |
As much of the expenditure is from private sources, considerable difficulty would be involved in obtaining figures over a five-year period. The figures given do not take account of the amount of research done by specialists in hospitals in the ordinary course of their work.
I am satisfied that specialists in this field do keep abreast of developments elsewhere. In so far as it is possible for my Department to encourage them in this matter, I may mention that a number of fellowships for study abroad have, over the years, been allocated to persons engaged in treatment of malignant disease.
There is no such thing as being satisfied in the absolute sense with what is being spent on a research programme of this kind. The amount of money which can be made available is related to our resources and to competing claims of other projects.