Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The national breast screening programme commenced in 2000 and covers the east, north-eastern, midland and parts of the south-eastern areas of the country. Screening is offered free of charge to all women in those areas in the target age group of 50 to 64 years of age. Since the programme commenced in 2000, cumulative revenue funding of approximately €60 million and capital funding of €12 million has been allocated to support the programme. To the end of 2004, the number of women screened by BreastCheck was in the region of 185,000. The cancer detection rate is approximately 7.4% per 1,000 screened and to date more than 1,300 cancers have been detected.

The national roll-out of the programme is a major priority in the development of cancer services. I am confident that the target date of 2007 for the commencement of the roll-out of BreastCheck to the west, north west, south and south east will be met. Last week I gave approval to BreastCheck to advertise for the appointment of a design team to work up the detailed plans for the design and construction of two static clinical units, one in Cork and one in Galway. I also approved the development of a symptomatic breast centre at University College Hospital Galway. The total capital approved amounts to approximately €25 million. Tender notices have already been advertised in the EU Journal.

I am also committed to the national roll-out of a cervical screening programme in line with international best practice. Careful planning and consultation with relevant professional and advocacy stakeholders is required before I make definite policy decisions on a national roll-out. The former Health Board Executive commissioned an international expert in cervical screening to examine the feasibility and implications of a national roll-out. The examination included an evaluation of the current pilot programme in the mid-western area, quality assurance, laboratory capacity and organisation and the establishment of national governance arrangements.

The pilot cervical screening programme commenced in October 2000 and is available to eligible women resident in counties Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary. Under the programme, cervical screening is being offered free of charge to approximately 74,000 women in the 25 to 60 age group.

My Department is now consulting the relevant professional and advocacy stakeholders. The consultation is well advanced and will be completed in a matter of weeks. In addition, my Department allocated a further €1.1 million to the programme in 2005 on an ongoing basis to complete the transition of the remaining laboratories to new and more effective testing and to support the development of quality assurance and training programmes.

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