Currently in Ireland, we have 23 linear accelerators in Galway, Dublin and Cork. Of those 14 linear accelerators in Dublin, 12 are more than ten years old and eight are more than 15 years old. It is clearly established that any machine that is more than ten years old is going to cause delays and breakdowns are far more frequent and as a result, the service cannot be delivered. In fact, the figures for 2025 are quite frightening where the radiation that people required was not delivered within the 14-day time period, which is the guideline. Paragraph 22 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 set out that a rolling replacement programme would be put in place. This has not occurred. In relation to radiation therapy, we have a whole team of people. We have radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, medical physics, dosimetrists and nurses. There is a whole team. If a linear accelerator breaks down, treatment is not provided and a whole team wastes one, two or three days. Radiation therapy cures about 40% of cancers. The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, ESTRO, sets out quite clearly that the lifetime of these machines is ten years. Some of these machines are 18 years old. There is a programme, to start in 2027, which talks about replacing two machines per year but that is not enough. We now need to set out a clear programme of action so that the number of replacements is four per year over the next three years and not two per year. This needs to be put in place. We have had a huge increase in population. We will also have an increase in the number of people who require treatment. We have the expertise. We have good and dedicated staff. It is important that we give them the support they require. There are 14 machines in total in Dublin. If St. Luke's replaces two machines every year, some of them will be over 21 years old by the time they are replaced. It is time that we looked at this. It is not a big cost in real terms because there would be a huge saving. We are wasting staff time when a machine is not working. Over the past 12 months, we have also had to have patients receive treatment in the private sector. This cost over €17 million last year alone. Why are we delaying the replacement of these machines? Recently, I opened the cancer summit in Croke Park, which was attended by more than 300 people from hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and a whole range of services in the healthcare area. There was a big discussion about the fact that we are delaying putting new equipment in place.

Sentiment score: 0.04

In 2016 access to radiation therapy within 15 days was 86.4% and in 2019 it was 86.5%. Last year it was 78.7%. It has dropped. In fact, in 2024 it was down to 64.7%. Part of the problem is machines breaking down. There is a need for a national radiotherapy equipment replacement programme. I know the programme is starting but it is about whether we can do it faster over the next four years. We will be in Government for this period of time so let us make a serious effort. We have the expertise and we need to make sure we have ring-fenced capital funding to replace four machines per year over the next three to four years so that we have a large number of machines replaced. This will create efficiency. As I said earlier, all of the figures clearly indicate, because the population has increased dramatically over the past 20 years and we also have people living longer so we have an older population, that we are more likely to have more people identified with cancer. Therefore, more people will require treatment. Time is of the essence in providing treatment and it is very important that we have the best quality machines available so the staff can do this. This treatment cures up to 40% of cancers. It is extremely important that we give it priority over the next three to four years and set out a clear plan of capital funding. We must remember that when we are replacing the machines we will have delays because one or two fewer machines will be available. This is why we need to roll it on as fast as possible.

Sentiment score: 0.10