Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I referred to breast screening and asked whether it would be extended to over 65 year olds and when it would be rolled out fully, which are important matters. The Minister answered Senator Feeney's question on the under 40 year olds. Generally speaking, those women are in tune with their bodies and good at noticing changes. Will the 23 medical oncologists be sufficient to provide the service in question?

I made an analogy concerning Dr. Courtney in Kilkenny, an expert in gastroenterology and surgery. When the services are centralised, will he travel from Kilkenny to Waterford to operate on a patient from Kilkenny? Does the Minister plan to introduce an immunisation programme with the cervical cancer vaccine? Testicular cancer and colorectal cancer treatment services will be available in four centres. While I do not want to diminish the importance of any cancer, some types are more easily treated or are more common. On what basis was it decided that each of the above types would be treated in four centres?

Babies are supposed to have developmental checks at nine months of age, but many are not being checked until they are two years old. That is late considering how many developmental issues can be detected and treated, and the earlier the better.