Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

I join my colleagues in congratulating the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary, on his appointment. However, I am disappointed that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, is not in the Chamber to respond to our concerns. The BreastCheck programme was launched nationally in 2000. In 2002, an announcement was made that the women of County Clare would benefit imminently from the screening service. Seven years later, no progress has been made in delivering the service to the women of the county.

The latest obstacle in the way of the roll-out is the recruitment embargo in the public service. It is astonishing that we should have to debate this issue today. It is astonishing that the Minister for Health and Children did not move immediately to clarify the situation. On 27 March, I tabled a parliamentary question regarding the appointment of a respiratory physician for cystic fibrosis sufferers in the mid-west. The Minister responded that the moratorium on public service recruitment does not apply to consultants and therapists. Why is this not the case in respect of the radiography services required for the roll-out of BreastCheck?

In 2007, some 66,500 women availed of the BreastCheck service where it was available. As a result, 396 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, representing a small percentage of the numbers screened. However, for those women, none of whom showed any obvious signs of cancer and who presented merely because they had been invited to do so, the service was a life saver. How can the Minister for Health and Children stand over any further delay in the delivery of BreastCheck to women in every county, including Donegal, Leitrim and Clare?

It was confirmed to me in the reply to a parliamentary question that €1.35 million was spent in 2007 by the national screening service on advertising, promotion, recruitment and consultancy. However, the allocation for front line services is being reduced. There have been enough false dawns in regard to the rolling out of BreastCheck in County Clare. It is high time the women of Clare were offered this service. The Minister must get on with her job and deliver this programme in the interests of patient safety. I ask the Minister of State for a guarantee that it will be delivered without further delay.

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