Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I congratulate Senator Coonan and wish him success in the Upper House. I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment and for giving me an opportunity to set out the position in relation to the development of breast cancer services generally and in the Mid-Western Health Board area. It is an issue I raised on many occasions in the past when we had no services whatsoever in place.

I am pleased the National Breast Screening Programme was established in 1998 with the aim of reducing mortality from breast cancer by 20% by screening women in the age group of 50 to 64 years of age. BreastCheck commenced screening in March 2000 with phase one of the programme covering the area of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, in which I was happy to be involved as I was chairman of the ERHA, the Midland Health Board and the North Eastern Health Board areas. The decision to proceed on a phased basis is a reflection of the complexities involved in the screening process and it is essential that the programme is driven by international quality assurance criteria and best practice with which, I presume, everybody agrees. The experience gained in phase one will facilitate the process of planning and organising the roll-out of the programme nationwide.

To end of August 2002, almost 92,000 women had been called for screening and over 68,000 women have been screened representing an uptake of 74%. I understand BreastCheck is on target to complete phase one of the programme by December 2002. I take this opportunity to congratulate all those involved in phase one and in the success of the programme, including those involved in the administration and the practice and those who participated.