Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, commenced in 2000 with the programme covering the former Eastern, North Eastern and Midland Health Board regions. In 2003 the extension of the programme to counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and its national expansion to the rest of the country was announced. Screening commenced in Wexford in March 2004, in Carlow in April 2005 and in Kilkenny in March this year.

I informed the Deputy last month of my meeting with representatives of BreastCheck and of my wish to have the programme rolled out to the remaining regions of the country as quickly as possible. Some €2.3 million was made available to BreastCheck this year to provide among other things for the early recruitment and training of staff. The interview process for the posts of clinical directors is now completed and BreastCheck has also commenced the recruitment process for other essential staff. The notice for the procurement of a construction company for the new clinical units in Cork and Galway has been published in the EU Journal and the design team is in the process of short listing applicants. Following the selection of the contractor, construction of the units will commence. BreastCheck is confident that the target date of next year for the commencement of the national roll out will be met. On full roll out, all women in the target age group in every county will have access to breast screening and follow up treatment where appropriate.

As I previously informed the Deputy, any proposal received by BreastCheck to support the roll out of its screening programme is carefully examined to assess the extent to which it complies with existing standards. BreastCheck has advised my Department that it has engaged in extensive discussions with the Galway Clinic. BreastCheck conducted an evaluation of this proposal and has concluded that the clinic in question would not be in a position to provide a population based screening programme in line with its requirements.

See this speech in context