Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I assure the Deputy it is my intention and that of the Government to have it rolled out as well. That is why provision has been made by way of resources for that to happen and why we have gone to tender for procurement of a contractor to build the facility. However, it is not just about a building. It is also a question of highly qualified staff such as a radiologist, specially trained nurses and others. As I told the Deputy earlier, clinical directors and other key staff have been selected. In addition to the screening process and the 2% of the population that require follow-up, there is the question of the surgical team. In the case of the west there is the University College Hospital, Galway. Staff in the whole facility must work together and it is not just an issue of screening, as the Deputy is aware.

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