The Minister for Health, Míchael Martin, has said the Government is committed to implementing plans for a nationwide breast cancer service.
He was responding to criticisms by leading cancer surgeon, Professor Niall O'Higgins, who said progress had been disappointingly slow since the Government gave the go-ahead two years ago for setting up specialised regional centres.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, Minister Martin conceded that progress was slow because of organisational difficulties, but that public funding was available to build and staff the centres.
Two years ago the Government endorsed the recommendations of the expert report into breast cancer services, which called for the establishment of fully-staffed specialist breast cancer units in 11 centres around the country.
The plan was to base five units in Dublin, two in Cork city, and one in Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Drogheda, Sligo and Portlaoise.
Each unit would serve a population of 300,000 people, with a multidisciplinary team available for rapid diagnosis and effective management. International evidence showed that Ireland's high breast cancer mortality rates could be reduced by up to 20% by such an approach.
None of these centres has so far been fully developed, although two units in Dublin are well staffed. Local differences over the siting of the centres were a significant factor, especially in the Midlands and the West.
Prof O'Higgins said no consultants or beds are in place in the West, no lead surgeon has been appointed in the Midwest and there are funding difficulties in the Southern Health Board and in the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
The rudiments of the service are in place in the Northwest. There was little tangible evidence of progress in the Midlands, and there was some progress in the Northeast.
Prof O'Higgins said he now believed funds were not available for capital investment or staffing and the health authorities should inform the public that is the case.
