The office of the Ombudsman is investigating the delay by the Department of Health in publishing an expert group's report on the provision of radiotherapy services across the State.
The report was commissioned in May 2000, but it still has not been published three years later.
The Ombudsman's office wrote to the secretary-general of the Department of Health, Mr Michael Kelly, last month, seeking an explanation. The letter said the Ombudsman believed the Department "should undertake to make its contents available without further delay".
Its investigation follows the lodging of a complaint last November by Ms Jane Bailey of the South East Cancer Foundation.
She was advised by letter from the expert group in December 2000 that the group was "at an advanced stage of its deliberations" and hoped to "shortly be in a position to recommend to the Minister the way forward".
On receipt of Ms Bailey's complaint, the Ombudsman's office wrote to the Department requesting a report on the matter.
It was advised by letter from the Department on February 6th that the work of the expert group was "nearing completion" and the final draft of the report was being edited. Two months later the Dáil was told the report was at the final editing stage.
On May 20th last the then Ombudsman, Mr Kevin Murphy, wrote to Ms Bailey updating her on the investigation of her complaint. The Ombudsman's office said its latest letter to the Department said the Ombudsman fully appreciated the complexities and sensitivities of the debate on the national provision of radiotherapy services and the importance of the deliberative process in this regard, but he was "also strongly of the view that the release of information by public bodies is a mechanism for ensuring greater accountability and improved administration".
It added: "Where undertakings are given in respect of the provision of information, advice or explanation and these undertakings are subsequently not adhered to, as in this case, there is, in the view of the Ombudsman, a danger that the principles governing the attainment of the highest standards in public administration will be undermined.
"Accordingly, in relation to the report of the expert working group on radiotherapy services in the State, the letter says that the Ombudsman considers that the Department should undertake to make its contents available without further delay. If this is not possible, he considers that it is incumbent on the Department to clarify the reasons why and to indicate when, in its view, the obstacles to publication might be overcome."
Radiotherapy services are currently only available in Dublin and Cork and as a result very ill cancer patients have to travel long distances for therapy or not receive it at all, which happens in many instances. Leaks from the expert group's unpublished report suggest it will recommend radiotherapy should only be provided at three locations - Dublin, Cork and Galway, where a new unit is built and awaiting commissioning.