Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is my objective to have an effective national cervical screening programme rolled out, beginning late this year. The programme will provide free cervical screening for women in the 25 to 60 year age group nationally and aims to reduce mortality from cervical cancer by up to 80%. For that purpose, on 1 January 2007, I established a national cancer screening service, which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish cervical screening programme. The total allocation to the new service is €33 million which is a 71% increase on the 2006 allocation to the programmes. This includes additional funding of €5 million for 2007 for the service to commence the roll-out of the programme by the end of the year. The national cancer screening service plans to have cervical screening managed as a national call-recall programme. This will be done through effective governance structures that provide overall leadership and direction, in terms of quality assurance, accountability and value for money. All elements of the programme, including call-recall, smear taking, laboratories, colposcopy and treatment services will be quality assured, organised and managed to deliver a single integrated national service.

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