170 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the work being done by the National Cancer Registry Board which, at present, covers Counties Cork and Kerry only; and when he expects the operations of the board to be extended to include the rest of the country, including County Meath.

The functions of the National Cancer Registry Board are set out in the National Cancer Registry Board (Establishment) Order, 1991 (Statutory Instrument No. 19 of 1991) and are as follows:—

(a) to identify, collect, classify, record, store and analyse information relating to the incidence and prevalence of cancer and related tumours in Ireland;

(b) to collect, classify, record and store information in relation to each newly diagnosed individual cancer patient and in relation to each tumour which occurs;

(c) to promote and facilitate the use of the data thus collected in approved research projects and in the planning and management of services;