I estimate that women in north Tipperary and other areas will have to wait for many years before they can avail of such a screening programme, even though for many of them it could prove to be the difference between life and death. Is lack of money the reason? We can only assume that it is. Let us examine the costs. According to figures supplied as recently as last week to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, by the chief executive of BreastCheck, Mr. Tony O'Brien, the capital cost of extending the programme would be €13 million, rising to €21 million. That cost is not excessive, considering the excellent quality of the service and the implications of its availability for reducing deaths from breast cancer.