Only 10 per cent of the targets set out in the National Cancer Strategy have been met, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has said.
On Thursday, the charity warned unless further investment is made, the State’s cancer mortality rate will increase.
The National Cancer Strategy, which covers 2017 to 2026, is a Government policy outlining the approach to cancer care in Ireland, with the aim of reducing rates, improving care and enhancing support.
The strategy outlines 28 key targets, but of these, just three have been met one year before the completion of the strategy, according to an analysis by ICS.
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The organisation said 14 have not been met at all, seven have no data available, one is considered unlikely to meet its 2026 target given its current trajectory and three have a 2026 deadline which cannot yet be assessed.
Targets that have been met involve access to lung rapid-access clinics, participation in BreastCheck and patients with invasive cancers being discussed at multi-disciplinary team meetings.
The charity outlined areas it described as “critical concerns”, which largely related to timely care.
According to ICS, more than 2,700 people were waiting more than the recommended 28 days for an urgent colonoscopy between January and May 2025. Also, 3,600 women were not seen within the recommended 10 working days at urgent symptomatic breast disease clinics between January and May 2025.
Furthermore, not every patient received their cancer surgery within recommended timeframes for a variety of cancers, including pancreatic cancer (one in two), prostate cancer (one in three), breast cancer (six in 10) and lung cancer (seven in 10).
[ BreastCheck programme missed targets for last two yearsOpens in new window ]
In addition, between January and May 2025, approximately roughly 580 people did not start radiation therapy within the recommended 15 days, the charity said, adding that there is missing data on a range of “important metrics”.
Averil Power, chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society, said: “As we head into the final year of the strategy, it’s clear most targets are not being met. That will only change if Government provides additional investment in the National Cancer Strategy in next week’s budget.”
Prof John Kennedy, chair of the last National Cancer Strategy, said patients are “being let down”.
“The huge challenges posed by the combination of a growing and increasingly aged population along with ever more complex, expensive and effective therapy, can only be addressed by coherent planning for, and multiannual funding of, the next National Cancer Strategy over its lifetime.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the Government is “committed to improving cancer care”.
“Successive national cancer strategies continue to deliver improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients,” she said.
“Since 2017, significant funding of €105 million has been invested in the National Cancer Strategy, including €23 million in 2025."
