Dublin City Council has asked the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to explain the high incidence of cancer among women residents in a one-mile area of Dublin's inner city. Olivia Kelly and Daniel McConnell report
Residents of Sean O'Casey Avenue in Summerhill say at least 10 people have been diagnosed with cancer on the street and a further 11 or more within a one-mile radius over the past two to three years.
Most of those diagnosed were women between the ages of 30 and 60 years. There are 79 houses on the street.
The Central Area Committee of the council last night passed an emergency motion asking the Minister to explain why "a large number of women" on O'Casey Avenue and the immediate area were receiving oncology treatment.
Sinn Feín Cllr Christy Burke told the committee that the street, which mostly has local authority houses, was overlooked by three large masts, one in a Garda station and two in a CIÉ bus station.
In addition, the road had been built on the site of an old piggery, he said. "We need to know if these could be factors in why so many women are going for tests and undergoing treatment for cancer."
Cllr Burke acknowledged that lifestyle factors could also be a contributing factor, but said it was unusual that so many people had the disease.
Mainly bungalows, the street's houses are situated in an area which is a varied mix of high-rise flats and Georgian housing.
Residents, who did not wish to be quoted by name, spoke of their anger and frustration at the lack of political action. One said: "Two very good friends of mine have been diagnosed within the last year . . . It's time something is done about this."
A medical officer from the Northern Area Health Board met residents of Sean O'Casey Avenue last Thursday and has relayed their concerns to the director of public health of the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA), Dr Marie Laffoy.
A spokeswoman for the authority said Dr Laffoy would be conducting an investigation into the matter. A spokeswoman for the Minister for Health said last night that Mr Martin would be very concerned if there was a particularly high incidence of cancer in one area and his officials were liaising with the ERHA.