Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank Deputy Hoctor for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I welcome the opportunity to set out the current position regarding the BreastCheck programme and, in particular, its extension to the remaining counties.

The national breast screening programme commenced in the eastern and midland regions in February 2000. Screening is offered free of charge to women in the 50 to 64 age group in these regions. Last year the programme was extended to cover counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. The expansion to the south-eastern counties will result in an additional 18,000 women being invited for screening. Since February 2000, cumulative revenue funding of approximately €60 million and €12 million capital funding has been allocated to support the programme. As of September last year, 167,000 women had been invited for screening and approximately 120,000 had availed of the service. It is estimated that the cancer detection rate is approximately 7.8 per 1,000 women screened and to date more than 1,000 cancers have been detected.

The national roll-out of the BreastCheck programme to remaining counties is a major priority in the development of cancer services. The expansion of this service will ensure that all women in the relevant age group have access to breast screening and follow-up treatment where required. A capital investment of €21 million has been approved to construct and equip two static units, one at South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, Cork, and the other at University College Hospital, Galway. This investment will also ensure that mobile units are available to screen all women in the relevant age group throughout the country, including women in the mid-western area.

Detailed planning for the static units is progressing as a matter of priority. A project team was established to develop briefs for the capital infrastructure required for the two new units. The design briefs for both sites were completed in January 2005. The next stage is to appoint a design team to complete the detailed design of the two units. Given the scale of the investment involved, EU tendering procedures will apply.

Capital funding for the facilities at Cork and Galway has been identified under the capital investment framework 2005 to 2009 and both developments will be progressed simultaneously. Funding has also been approved for the relocation and development of the symptomatic breast disease unit at University College Hospital, Galway. This unit will be developed in tandem with the BreastCheck development.

The Health Service Executive, in conjunction with the Department, is examining the health capital investment framework with a view to initiating as quickly as possible new capital commitments, both for this and subsequent years. The majority of women diagnosed with breast disease are treated outside of the BreastCheck programme. The report on the development of services for symptomatic breast disease published in 2000 found that the establishment of specialist breast units could best provide the necessary care. The report recommended the development of 13 such units strategically placed throughout the country, including one in Limerick, each treating a sufficiently large number of patients in order to maintain expertise and to promote best practice. Six of the units recommended in the report are now fully operational and the remainder is at advanced stages of development. Since 2000, more than €60 million has been made available for the development of symptomatic breast disease services throughout the country.

As regards the Health Service Executive mid-western area, there has been a cumulative additional investment of approximately €60 million for the development of appropriate treatment and care services for people with cancer, including breast cancer since 1997. This funding has provided for the approval of an additional eight consultants in key areas of cancer care. These include a surgeon with a special interest in breast disease. The funding has also provided for the appointment of 22 cancer care nurse specialists across the mid-western area.

The Tánaiste is committed to the national expansion of BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme. The design, construction and commissioning of projects of this nature generally take approximately two and a half years. It is anticipated that the advertisement for appointment of a design team will be placed in the EU journal in the coming weeks and I am confident the target date of mid 2007 for the expansion of BreastCheck nationally will be met.

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