Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Screening plays a major part, as it does with other cancers. We are currently rolling out BreastCheck and in April it will be rolled out to the rest of the country. Clearly, rolling it out on a population basis cannot be done overnight. Particular issues arise with regard to lower socio-economic groups, which is why the issues of education and awareness, and the huge efforts being made in that regard, as well as the provision of mobile facilities to try to bring screening closer to the population, are so important.

With regard to cervical screening specifically, a pilot project has been in operation in the mid-west for several years. We have learned from that experience and this will inform the manner in which the new screening board, established on 1 January last, will later this year begin the roll-out of a national programme for 25 to 60 year olds.

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