I wish to ask about cancer services with specific reference to the NDP review that will be published in July and to make the case for a dedicated funding stream within that for cancer services. I wish to also ask about UHL and especially the cancer care outcomes. UHL has the worst outcomes in the January 2025 NCRI report. This is extremely concerning. There is no PET scanner, which means lung cancer patients are suffering delays of four to six weeks and have to travel for these scans. There is a plan to deliver one within the next five years, but that needs to happen a lot quicker. Currently patients have to travel to the Beacon and to Cork, where there is a four week wait. There is also no cardiothoracic surgeon on site. Patients are sent to St. James's Hospital. There is only one bronchoscopy room and no recovery room for patients post-bronchoscopy, which means it is extremely inefficient. If a recovery room existed four bronchoscopies could be performed in one hour, rather than one as it is now.

I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue of cancer care. While still too high, cancer mortality rates in Ireland are falling faster than the EU average, having fallen by 17% between 2011 and 2021 compared with the EU average of 12%. Five-year survival rates for patients have greatly improved since the first national cancer strategy. They are 65% for patients who received a cancer diagnosis in the period 2014 to 2018 compared with 44% in 1994 to 1998.

The Deputy raised specific issues with cancer services in University Hospital Limerick. I will ask the Department and the Minister's office to come up with a written response and we will get it sent to the Deputy.