The board of BreastCheck has submitted a business plan for the national expansion of BreastCheck. The total cost of the extension as calculated by BreastCheck is approximately €27 million, including capital costs of €13 million. The annual cost of the current programme is €8.7 million. The Department is in discussions with the executive of BreastCheck in relation to the expansion and especially the linkages with the existing symptomatic services. The Minister is committed to the national expansion of BreastCheck and a decision in relation to this issue will be considered in the context of the overall investment programme in cancer services for 2003.