The Government is facing calls to clarify how cancer care services will be financed in the coming year.
During Wednesday’s Oireachtas Health Committee session, several cancer support organisations voiced concerns about the planned decentralisation of cancer services, which is expected to take effect in 2026, reports Breaking News.
According to the Department of Health, future funding for cancer services will be directed through Regional Executive Officers instead of continuing with a centralised model.
The Irish Cancer Society stated that it still lacks information on how the Government intends to fund cancer care under Budget 2026, reports Breaking News.
Despite the overall €27.4 billion allocation for health in Budget 2026, there was no specific provision made for cancer services.
Speaking on Newstalk, Steve Dempsey of the Irish Cancer Society said more transparency is needed to ensure patients receive the best possible treatment: “There is a risk that the efficacy that comes from having a central strategy run by cancer experts will be watered down with this new approach,” reports Breaking News.
The organisation urged the committee to provide clarity on how future cancer funding will be distributed and to define the ongoing role of the National Cancer Control Program.
However, Mr Dempsey added: “I think it would be very hard to say that it’s a plan that’s doomed to fail at the moment. We just need to see the detail,” reports Breaking News.
The Irish Cancer Society noted that existing delays and missed performance targets underscore the need to protect and prioritise future cancer care budgets.
The Marie Keating Foundation also voiced concern that the absence of dedicated funding for cancer services in Budget 2026 has left patients and healthcare professionals uncertain about the future, reports Breaking News.
Last year, Sinn Féin accused the Government of intentionally underfunding cancer care, while the Irish Cancer Society warned that without sufficient investment, survival rates are unlikely to improve, reports Breaking News.
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