Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I draw the attention of my colleagues to the fact that we are in the middle of positive ageing week 2011 and highlight once again the age discrimination against older women in the health service.

Between the ages of 50 and 65 a woman is called every 24 months for a free mammogram. Over the age of 65 a woman ceases to be called every two years, even though she is seven times more likely to develop breast cancer. If a woman aged over 65 can afford it, she can go to her GP, pay €55 or €60 and then pay over €200 for a private mammogram within two days. If a woman cannot afford to pay she has to visit a GP to be put on a waiting list. A woman attending a public hospital for a mammogram has to wait 12 weeks for it after receiving a letter from a GP.

I call on the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, to tell us when he intends to fulfil his promise in the programme for Government to extend the age for free mammograms for women to 70.