The Health Service Executive has announced that a consultant medical oncologist with a special interest in sarcoma is to be appointed on a priority basis.
Campaigners had been demanding that that a locum oncologist and specialist in sarcoma be retained in St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin.
Protests had been held outside the hospital and an online petition gathered thousands of signatures.
It has now been confirmed that following discussions with St Vincent's and the Department of Health, a consultant oncologist specialising in sarcoma is to be recruited.
The HSE said the first step in the recruitment process has been initiated.
It said that in the interim, appropriate clinical arrangements are currently in place in St Vincent's to ensure patients are treated and managed on a multi-disciplinary basis by specialist teams.
Following a meeting with the Minister for Health Simon Harris, the Dept of Health, the HSE and the Sarcoma Action Group, arrangements are also being put in place to facilitate those patients who may wish to continue to remain under the care of the locum consultant, pending the appointment of the permanent post holder.
The three-year locum post at St Vincent's held by consultant Dr Alexia Bertuzzi ended in June.
Over 15,500 people have signed an online petition for her retention as the only sarcoma specialist at the hospital.
The Sarcoma Action Group said that St Vincent's, which is the sarcoma centre of excellence, now has no qualified sarcoma specialist.
Sarcomas are rare cancers affecting around 250 people a year.
Dr Bertuzzi was employed on a temporary basis to cover for a permanent consultant oncologist who had taken up a role elsewhere on sabbatical but has since returned to St Vincent's.
The Irish Patients Association (IPA) said very vulnerable patients should not have had to protest in public over the issue.
Stephen McMahon of the IPA said it appears there was inadequate communication on the issue with patients and possibly with the Minister for Health.
