Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I support the Labour Party motion and congratulate BreastCheck on the excellence and high standard of its service and data. We were promised that the BreastCheck screening service would be available nationwide by 1999. That promise was then extended to 2002. Now we have to wait another 22 months before it will be extended to the south and west. That is unacceptable.

Women not covered by the BreastCheck programme are at risk and live in fear of breast cancer. A modest amount, just over €13 million, is all that is required for the roll-out of the service. This expenditure would represent good value. When I see how the Government throws money around, for example, €250,000 was spent yesterday on photographs, I know the money could be found. Some have said the problem is a shortage of radiographers but my belief is that it all comes down to money. The service is overdue. What drug could cut the cancer mortality rate by 20%? What we need is money and a dedicated plan to ensure the west and south get the same treatment as other parts of the country.

There is strong evidence for extending the programme to women aged between 65 and 70 years provided they have already attended. More cancers would be picked up and there would be a better chance of securing a reduction in mortality. In America some women avail of breast checks through an insurance based system. There is a cancer epidemic worldwide and in Ireland the situation seems to be particularly bad. The World Health Organisation has stated 80% of cancers are linked to environmental causes.

Mention was made of offering the service to women aged between 30 and 50 years. There is an alarming incidence of breast cancer among women in that age group. This needs to be investigated. I urge the Minister to commence a roll-out programme immediately. Why is the high detection rate related to the start-up of the programme? Why do 650 women die each year from breast cancer? If the mortality rate was cut by 20%, 130 women nationally would be saved.

Given that only half of the country is covered by BreastCheck and the screening programme has been in place since 2000, 195 women could be alive today if the service was extended to the west and south. It is unforgivable that those women might have been saved if breast screening had been introduced to these areas. There is a major disparity in the health provisions made for the east coast area in comparison with the south and west.

Last July the board of BreastCheck made its report to the Minister, yet he acknowledged receipt of it only in December. What happened to it in the intervening five months? I support the Labour Party motion.