Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

If the Senator listened, she might learn something. The 1996 report acknowledged that cervical screening is a worthwhile preventative health measure when delivered as an organised screening programme. Following the report's recommendations, phase one of the national cervical screening programme commenced in the Mid-Western Health Board in October 2000. A key concern regarding the development of phase one is ensuring a service underpinned by quality assurance and best practice. Under the programme, around 67,000 women in the 25-60 age group will be screened at five-yearly intervals free of charge. Around €3.9 million is allocated the board to cover the annual running costs of phase one.

The extension of planning and organising a national programme underpinned by quality assurance is a major undertaking with significant logistical and resource implications that requires very careful planning. The experience gained from phase one of the national programme should be of assistance in the context of implementing the commitment. As part of an examination of the feasibility and implementation of rolling out the national programme, the chief executive officers of the health boards are making arrangements to have an external review of phase one carried out during 2003.

Palliative care has rightly been mentioned. Following a Government commitment to develop a national palliative care plan, the then Minister for Health and Children established the national advisory committee on palliative care in summer 1999 with a view to preparing a report on the development of palliative care services in Ireland. The report of the national advisory committee on palliative care was approved by the Government in summer 2001 and launched by the Minister, Deputy Micheál Martin, on 4 October of that year. The report describes a comprehensive palliative care service and acts as a blueprint for its development.