68 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position in respect of the oncology service at Tallaght Hospital; her plans to upgrade this vital service in Tallaght; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13626/08]

The decisions of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to designate four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres, under the National Cancer Control Programme will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will serve to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome irrespective of geography. This will involve significant realignment of services to move from the present fragmented system of care to one which is consistent with international best practice in cancer control.

The HSE has advised that discussions are underway with the eight designated centres and with the non-designated hospitals currently providing cancer services, including Tallaght Hospital in order to manage the transition. A detailed transitional plan will be put in place to facilitate the progressive, gradual and carefully managed transfer of services over the next two years or so.

Where diagnosis and treatment planning is directed and managed by multidisciplinary teams based at the cancer centres, then much of the treatment (other than surgery) can be delivered in other hospitals, such as Tallaght Hospital. In this context, chemotherapy and support services will continue to be delivered locally. Cancer day care units will continue to have an important role in delivering services to patients as close to home as possible.

69 Deputy James McDaid asked the Minister for Health and Children when the last review of renal services took place here; and if her attention has been drawn to the situation regarding kidney dialysis patients in County Donegal. [13627/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issues raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the issues investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

My Department is aware that the HSE undertook a National Renal Review to inform the approach to the future development of renal services. The Report of the Review Group was completed over a year ago and developments in renal services have since been guided by the thinking in the report. The Renal Review Group identified the need for the early introduction of a follow-on implementation plan. The HSE has decided that such a plan needs to be aligned with its Transformation Programme. The HSE has further determined that the Report of the Review Group should be reviewed by an external expert/consultancy and arrangements are to be put in place to this effect.

70 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be given a bed in a hospital in Dublin. [13629/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

71 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been refused transport to a hospital appointment in Dublin in view of the outstanding circumstances of their case. [13634/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.