It has been reported that £1.1m of funding for the delivery of Altnegelvin Radiotherapy Centre is under threat, which could delay the opening of the new centre.

SDLP Colum Eastwood is calling on the Health Minister Edwin Poots to remain committed to the project.

Mr Eastwood said: "While I welcome the minister's commitment to the delivery of this essential cross-border radiotherapy centre for the North West, it is important there is no delay in the projected completion of the facility in 2016.

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"The treatment of cancer patients from all over the North West cannot be allowed to be delayed due to a failure to deliver funding pledged for this life saving centre. Preparatory work is ongoing at the site, and I would urge Mr Poots to ensure work continues to deliver the project on time."

Mr Eastwood criticised Mr Poots for suggesting the failure to implement welfare reform measures was to blame for a range of health cuts he may now be forced to implement.

He added: "The health minister has blamed a proposed range of cuts on the failure to implement welfare reform in Northern Ireland, but the figures don't add up. The minister sought £160m in the June monitoring round and got £20m.

"However, a total of £78m was taken out of the entire Executive budget in the June round with a sizeable portion of that being paid in penalties to Westminster over the welfare reform situation."

(CD/JP)