Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 4: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will initiate a State-wide cervical pre-cancer screening programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9543/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am committed to the national roll-out of a cervical screening programme in line with international best practice. International evidence demonstrates the proven efficacy of programmes that are effectively managed and meet quality assurance standards. Careful planning and consultation with relevant professional and advocacy stakeholders is required before I make policy decisions on a national roll-out.

The former Health Board Executive commissioned an international expert in cervical screening to examine the feasibility and implications of a national roll-out of a cervical screening programme. The examination included an evaluation of the current pilot programme in the mid-western area, quality assurance, laboratory capacity and organisation and the establishment of national governance arrangements. The expert's report was published on 14 December 2004. My Department is consulting the Irish College of General Practitioners, An Bord Altranais, the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the faculty of pathology of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Women's Health Council and the Irish Cancer Society. Consultation with these key stakeholders is well advanced and will be completed shortly.

Approximately 230,000 smear tests are carried out annually which represents an increase of almost 20% in recent years. To meet this increased demand, additional cumulative funding of approximately €14.5 million has been provided by my Department since 2002 to enhance the laboratory and colposcopy services.

The pilot cervical screening programme commenced in October 2000 and is available to eligible women resident in counties Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. Under the programme, cervical screening is offered free of charge at five-year intervals to approximately 74,000 women in the 25 to 60 age group. In addition, my Department allocated a further €1.1 million to the programme on an ongoing basis to complete the transition of the remaining laboratories to new and more effective testing and to support the development of quality assurance and training programmes. These are essential preparatory elements in a national roll-out.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister support and act on the unanimous call of the Irish Cancer Society and 24 other organisations, including trade unions, professional bodies and women's networks, on 24 February for a State-wide pre-cancer screening programme? The latest figures I have relate to 2000. There were 1,019 new cases of in situ cervical cancer, that is, a pre-cancerous state, 193 cases of invasive cancer and 65 deaths. Does the Minister agree comprehensive screening leading to early detection and treatment can and will dramatically reduce the incidence and development of cervical cancer and the resulting all too terrible death toll? Will she therefore roll out a screening programme as soon as possible? Will she offer screening free of charge to all women aged between 25 and 60? Will she prepare a register of all such women to facilitate the roll-out of such a programme?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I would like to have a national roll-out. Professor Prendeville, who is one of our leading experts in this area, recently said an organised roll-out would be more effective than opportunistic screening, which is currently the case, in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and he believes it could be reduced by 80%. I would like to discuss this issue in the context of the renewal of the contact under the GMS. This programme is being implemented by general practitioners and I would like it to be included as part of a new contract with them.

I do not have current figures on the number of women who die from cervical cancer in Ireland but I have no reason to dispute the figures given by the Deputy. However, population screening in certain areas is successful. Cervical and breast screening highlight that early detection has significant positive effects in preventing the illness or deaths and reducing the seriousness of the illness.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. I am obliged to interpret it in the most positive way I can and if it is her wish that such a programme should be included in the programme of work she is undertaking, I welcome and encourage it. Will she take on board that a comprehensive screening programme will save massive resources? There can be no argument on cost in this instance because the health service will save resources through early detection and prevention and, above all, the lives of women will be saved. I hope the Minister will move the project forward with some alacrity.

Will the Minister explore with her Northern counterpart the prospect of an island-wide roll-out of the screening programme because tremendous savings and benefits would be gained by adopting a cross-Border co-operative approach on such issues? I know from all the contact I have had north of the Border, there is no resistance to such co-operation on health matters. It is an area that can demonstrate the great value and importance of co-operation on many levels and in many matters. This is certainly one of them.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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That is a good idea. There is potential to do more on an all-island basis in the health care area. Unfortunately, because of the current political vacuum, it has not been possible to have a number of the meetings that might have been held in a different context. Perhaps following the Westminster elections, we might be in a position to discuss this. A number of issues have been raised on which it would make sense to work on an all-island basis. For example, radiotherapy is another issue for people in the north west and Border counties. If there are health care initiatives on which we can work on an all-island basis, we would be irresponsible not to pursue those options.