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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Wicklow cancer support funding

Summary

Deputy Whitmore raised a promise of recurrent funding for several Wicklow cancer support groups that she said had not materialised. The Health Minister said 2025 cancer support funding was being distributed through the NCCP and HSE, with the relevant groups moving through the process.

I raise a commitment and a promise that was made by the former Minister for Health to cancer groups across Wicklow last October. The former Minister promised funding for a number of cancer care groups, namely, Purple House Cancer Support, Arklow Cancer Support, Greystones Cancer Support, Wicklow Cancer Support, Rathdrum Cancer Support, Roundwood Cancer Support and West Wicklow Cancer Support. None of those groups have received that funding. I have seen correspondence from the former Minister where he said that funding would be recurrent funding, no matter the affiliation with the NCCP. The Tánaiste and I both well know the amazing work these cancer groups do in County Wicklow. Will he make sure that commitment made by his former Government colleague is kept?

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I will take this on the basis of it being a health matter. The HSE and the NCCP have recently been working with community organisations to distribute the 2025 funding of €5.5 million. The first call for the full members of the Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres, of which Purple House is one, is now almost complete and the second call for the associate members is now under way. I think some of the groups the Deputy mentioned are within that group. The Alliance has 21 full members and 22 associate members. The associate members will now go through that process as well but the priority is, of course, for the full members.

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