Since the publication of the O'Higgins report, my Department has been in consultation with the health boards in relation to the development of services for symptomatic breast disease in their respective regions. Since 2001 there has been a cumulative investment of approximately €30 million in these services. The benefit of this investment is reflected in the significant increase in activity which has occurred with in-patient breast cancer procedures increasing from 1,336 in 1997 to 1,839 in 2001. This is an increase of 37% nationally.