Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

BreastCheck, the relevant hospitals and the Department are fully committed to the expeditious roll-out to the rest of the country. Representatives have met to progress the design process, the next stage in the process.

The cervical screening programme was introduced on a phased basis, with phase one commencing in the Mid-Western Health Board area in October 2000. Under this phase, approximately 74,000 women in the 25 to 60 year age group are being screened free of charge at minimum intervals of five years. To date, almost 45,000 women have availed of the screening programme. The motion refers to the failure of the Government to extend the mid-west pilot project on cervical screening on a national basis. It is prudent to evaluate an initial pilot phase in any programme before considering its extension.

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