Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

The national roll out of the breast screening programme to the remaining counties is a major priority in the development of cancer services. The Department of Health and Children has been working collaboratively with BreastCheck and the two host hospitals involved in progressing the roll out. I welcome the opportunity to describe the Government's position on the programme and to outline in detail the different stages undertaken so far.

The national breast screening programme commenced in the eastern and midland regions in February 2000. Screening is offered free of charge to women in the 50 to 64 age group. Since the programme commenced, cumulative funding of approximately €60 million and €12 million capital funding has been allocated to support the programme.

In February 2003 the Minister for Health and Children announced the expansion of the current BreastCheck programme to counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. Screening commenced in Wexford in March 2004. BreastCheck expects to commence screening in Carlow in April 2005 and screening will follow in County Kilkenny when the first round of screening in Carlow is completed.

In March 2003 the Minister announced the expansion of the programme to the remaining counties in the country. The national roll out required detailed planning for the development of essential infrastructure to provide for two clinical units, one in Cork and the other in Galway. This detailed planning involved considerable work by BreastCheck, University College Hospital, Galway, the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, Cork, and the Department of Health and Children.

The first stage of the development was the planning of the two static clinical units, one at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital and the other at University College Hospital, Galway. This necessitated the establishment of two capital project teams to develop briefs for the units' construction. The former Western Health Board prepared detailed option appraisals for the BreastCheck development at University College Hospital, Galway. The brief proposals, with cost and phasing options, were then evaluated by the Department and the most appropriate option was selected.

The South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital considered it necessary to commission a site strategy study to ensure the integration of the breast screening service into current and future developments at the hospital. The Department made a capital grant of €230,000 available for the study to be undertaken by professional architectural, engineering and quantity surveying experts. This study was completed in mid-2004 and proposals were submitted to the Department.

After the evaluation of both briefs the Department was then in a position to determine the capital funding requirements for the progression of both developments. These requirements were considered in the context of the overall capital investment framework and, in September 2004, approval for a capital investment of approximately €21 million was given for the construction of the units. This investment will also provide for the mobile units which will be available to screen women throughout the country.

Subsequent discussions took place between BreastCheck, the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, the Western Health Board and the Department on design issues surrounding the development of the static units. It was decided to relocate and develop the symptomatic breast service back to back with the BreastCheck development at University College Hospital, Galway. In December 2004, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children approved additional capital funding of €3 million to support this development.

It is intended to progress both of the developments at Cork and Galway simultaneously and it is anticipated that the advertisement for the appointment of a design team will be placed in the EU journal in the coming weeks. The Tánaiste is committed to the national expansion of the breast screening programme. The design, construction and commissioning of projects of this nature generally take approximately two and a half years. The Tánaiste is confident that the target date of 2007 for the national expansion will be met.