The Minister for Health has said she is certain that by the end of this year anyone who needs an urgent colonoscopy will receive it during the designated time.
Mary Harney also said that by the end of 2009 Ireland would be one of the three best countries in the world for breast cancer services.
The minister was speaking at the launch of a report by the National Cancer Registry that found that survival rates for cancer sufferers across the island of Ireland are rising, but so are the numbers of cases being diagnosed.
Minister Harney said she had made colonoscopies a priority in the Health Service Executive service plan for this year and she receives a monthly report on the issue.
There has been an increase of 57% in the number of procedures taking place since last October, she added.
A HSE report revealed yesterday that over 900 patients were waiting for colonoscopies, but Ms Harney said she understood these were not emergency cases.
Speaking about the revelations that the breast cancer centre of excellence at Waterford Regional Hospital did not meet certain required standards, the minister said none of the eight centres met the criteria when selected.
She said that Professor Tom Keane, who is in charge of the National Cancer Control Programme, had told her that by the end of the year Ireland's breast cancer service would be one of the top three in the world.
