John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Twomey for raising this very important issue. Despite having a budget of €12 billion within the Department of Health and Children, it is clear that as far as the delivery of services is concerned, a two tier health service exists. The roll-out of BreastCheck makes this evident. What is striking is the extreme contrast between what the Government has said it will do and what it has done. The National Cancer Strategy of 2001 stated that screening programmes for breast cancer and cervical cancer would be extended nationwide. However, women are suffering because of the Government's failure to extend the BreastCheck programme.

The delay in rolling out the programme is costing lives. This is not a sensationalist statement; it is a fact. Cancer accounts for approximately one in four deaths annually in Ireland. Approximately 20,000 new cancer cases are reported each year. This state of affairs is quite disappointing when one looks at the Department's budget of €12 billion. It is very difficult to explain why a service that is run in one part of the country cannot be run in other parts. It is also difficult to explain the Department's inability to find the trained personnel to operate the service. The failure to extend BreastCheck cannot be ignored. Cancer is a growing problem that affects all sections of the community, either directly or indirectly. The Government continues to place lives at risk by failing to establish structures which the Opposition and the people demand. It is wrong to inform a woman with cancer that her life could have been saved had she been diagnosed earlier. What can one say to that person and her family? Reports show that by 2015, the incidence of many cancers will double. This does not represent progress. Early detection of cancer through screening is one of the most effective means of cancer prevention. Clinical trials of specific screening methods have shown them to be the most effective for breast cancer and cervical cancer. It is disgraceful that this Government continues to avoid the facts surrounding this issue.

There are approximately 1,700 cases of breast cancer in women each year. This figure represents up to 12 people dying each week from breast cancer. These figures cannot be asserted often enough because they reflect the lives of people I represent. The Government has misled people in the south, west and north west regarding the extension of BreastCheck. How can such a miscalculation have been made that the extension of BreastCheck must now be pushed out to 2007? I am sure that in 2007, another report will be needed before BreastCheck can be extended. As a representative of south Leitrim, I see the effects of the Government's failure to keep its promises. In 2003, we were promised that BreastCheck would be rolled out in the south, west and north west by 2005. Now we are told that it will be rolled out in 2007 and we know that the original promise to extend the programme by 2005 was an untruth as people in the south and west will have to wait two and a half years for it. BreastCheck will be an invaluable service when it is fully established but it is incomprehensible to think that people in the west must tolerate a lower quality of services. People with cancer in the west must travel to hospitals in the east for treatment.

What is particularly horrific is the way the Government needs to be constantly pushed to provide a service which will save lives. The Tánaiste has the ability to move this process forward in her new role as Minister for Health and Children. The extension of BreastCheck is one of the most important jobs facing her as Minister. She needs to take ownership of this issue. The list of promises made and not fulfilled by the Government is sickening to read. It must be twice as difficult for a woman who has been diagnosed with cancer in the last four years to be told that her chances of survival would have been higher had she been diagnosed earlier. This is not good enough in a country with the wealthiest economy in Europe. How can the Tánaiste occupy the position of Minister for Health and Children and allow this to happen?

We have seen enough reports by now. The former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, spent €1 million per week on consultants' reports. We need action rather than another report. This is the direct effect of the Government's failed promises and we will continue to push it in this House to live up to its promises and help people where it counts. The number of women dying as a result of cervical cancer could be reduced by 80% if a national screening service were correctly introduced. The 2007 date must be brought back.

Numerous parliamentary questions have been tabled by Fine Gael on this issue and each time its Deputies have received replies which state that a definite decision cannot be made until careful planning and consultation have been undertaken. We have had enough consultation. We need the BreastCheck service in the north west and Sligo.

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