A new working group is to be set-up to develop a strategy for cancer care across Ireland.

The news was announced by the Health Minister at the launch of a study into the last national cancer strategy.

The report - by the National Cancer Control Programme - has hailed moves to bring together "fragmented" arrangements at eight centres across the country as a success.

Dr Jerome Coffey is the Interim Director at the NCCP.

He says that "consolidation" process should continue in the years ahead.

According to the Irish Times, the report, drawn up by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) on the implementation of the 2006 strategy, says the intervening years have seen a major consolidation of cancer services.

“The fragmented arrangements then in place (in 2006) were not in accordance with best practice. Services were spread across 36 hospitals, many with small volumes of cancer patients and lacking full multidisciplinary teams .”

The report states that eight designated cancer services were established across the country.