The programme for Government commits to improving cancer care and access to treatment in the regions. Cork University Hospital stopped carrying out stem cell treatments in 2009. Since then, blood cancer patients from Cork and the south west have had to travel to St. James's or Galway at the most vulnerable time of their lives. I know a number of people who have had to travel to Galway and recuperate there after their treatment. A €27 million stem cell unit at CUH has had a project team in place since 2024. The HSE's own tender notice admits that CUH is not providing optimal treatment for stem cell and CAR-T therapies. Patients' advocates and clinicians will be in Leinster House on 7 October in a meeting organised by the Minister's own party's Senator, Eileen Lynch. To be fair to Eileen, she has advocated for this for a long time, as well as others in Cork and Kerry. I have written a number of letters to the HSE about this and I get the same old gibberish responses. We just want a definite answer. Can the Minister confirm the funding is there, the timeline for its delivery, since, as I said, the project team has been in place for a number of years, and if CAR-T therapies would be part of that as well? If the Minister does not have a response today, she might provide it in writing afterwards.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to give the Deputy a direct response today. I hope the Deputy would agree that this Government, the previous Government, and governments before that have placed a huge emphasis on investment in cancer care, prevention and on identifying it at the earliest stage possible, then providing the treatment, and also investing in new therapies. I know the CAR-T therapy that the Deputy referred to, which is a breakthrough, its significance, and making sure that every patient across the country has access to it, which is near their home, given the circumstances that they are going through. While I cannot give the Deputy the exact answer today on timelines, figures or funding, I will bring it directly back to the Minister and ask her to respond. I have no doubt that she will engage with the Deputy and Eileen.