Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cheann Comhairle as ucht an deis seo a thabhairt dom labhairt faoin ábhar tábhachtach seo. I am grateful for the opportunity to address this pressing issue in the mid-west region. I call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to give an update on and provide a timeframe for the start-up of the urgently needed BreastCheck screening service for women in the mid-west region.

In my first speech in the House shortly after I was first elected to the House to represent the people of north Tipperary in May 2002, I addressed this issue and called on the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to advance the breast screening service available in the mid-west region, which includes north Tipperary, Limerick and County Clare. I am aware the BreastCheck screening service commenced operation in various areas in March 2000, with the regions covered by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the Midland Health Board and the North Eastern Health Board reaping significant benefits from the project at the time. It operated on the basis of screening women from the ages of 50 to 64 years, the period in their lives when breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed.

It is essential that the breast screening programme is extended throughout the country to include the mid-western region. I understand the pilot projects in the three regions to which I referred have been a tremendous success. We in the mid-west region recognise the success of the cervical screening programme which was first piloted in the region. Other regions now await its roll-out. My focus tonight, however, is on the breast screening programme urgently needed in the mid-west region, including north Tipperary. I stress its importance because of the loss of the mammography unit in Nenagh Hospital in 2002. While we felt this loss, it was pointed out to us at the time by experts in Limerick Regional Hospital that the unit was no longer reliable and was failing to detect cancer in some women. We decided, therefore, not to campaign for the retention of a service which did provide full detection.

We are grateful for the oncology services available in Limerick Regional Hospital, which the Minister of State no doubt supports. Nevertheless, we need access to the BreastCheck screening programme, which is administered by mobile units in the pilot regions. Under the programme, women are encouraged to present themselves for screening in order that cancers can be detected at an early stage. Approximately 1,700 women are diagnosed with new cases of breast cancer each year. It is alarming that the absence of this service in the mid-west region means cancers among women are not detected.

I appreciate that once the process of planning and organising the roll-out of the breast screening programme nationwide is completed, the service will be extended to the mid-west region and that we will benefit from the experience gained in phase one of the roll-out. The major question, however, is when this will take place. Various times have been given. Will the Tánaiste give a specific timeframe? According to the original commitments, the service will be in operation at this time next year. I am aware that a design team was appointed while the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, was in office and the design of the building at the Galway unit has been approved by the Tánaiste. I understand, however, that she is awaiting approval from the Department of Finance.

From my discussions with the Tánaiste prior to Christmas, I am certain of her commitment to fast-track the extension of this programme to the mid-west region. I have tremendous regard for the Tánaiste and I know she means what she says. I want action and the service to be fully operational in the mid-west region as soon as possible.

The recruitment of staff is often used as an excuse for the long period required to implement the programme. I ask that, under the new Health Service Executive, the extension of the programme will no longer be delayed so that the women of north Tipperary can look forward to excellent breast screening services.

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