I propose to take Questions Nos. 284, 465 and 466 together.
It is my objective and that of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to see the earliest delivery of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology in the best interests of cancer patients throughout the country. The HSE and my Department are currently considering options to speed up delivery and I expect to receive their recommendation on the best option as a matter of priority. The development of radiation oncology at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) is an integral part of the Government's National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will be part of a major oncology development at WRH, including the provision of a 20 bed oncology day ward. In the interim, a service level agreement was signed on 1 February between the HSE and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre Whitfield Clinic in County Waterford and public patients are being referred for radiation oncology treatment pending the commissioning of the radiation oncology centre at WRH.
The HSE has in place several options for the transportation of patients who require radiotherapy and other oncology services. These services relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to provide relevant details to the Deputy.