Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when BreastCheck will be rolled out nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9458/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when BreastCheck will be available to women in the west and southern area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9460/05]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the date on which the BreastCheck screening programme will be extended throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9439/05]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 133: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to continue the roll out of BreastCheck; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9550/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 30, 61 and 133 together.

I am confident that the target date of 2007 for the expansion of BreastCheck nationally will be met. The national breast screening programme commenced in 2000 and currently covers the eastern, north eastern, midland and parts of the south eastern areas of the country. Screening is being offered free of charge to all women in those areas in the target age group of 50 to 64 years. Since the programme commenced in 2000 cumulative revenue funding of approximately €60 million and capital funding of €12 million has been allocated to support the programme.

The national roll out of the programme is now a major priority in the development of cancer services. This will ensure that all women in the relevant age group in every county will have access to breast screening and follow up treatment where appropriate. The national roll out of the programme required detailed planning for the development of infrastructure to provide for two static clinical units, one in Cork and the other in Galway.

A capital investment of approximately €21 million has been approved to construct and equip the two clinical units and to ensure that mobile units are available to screen women in the relevant age group throughout the country. Additional capital funding of €3 million has been approved for the relocation and development of the symptomatic breast disease unit, in tandem with the BreastCheck development at University College Hospital, Galway. Design briefs in respect of the capital projects have been completed. It is intended to progress 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 shortly.

Any woman, irrespective of her age or residence, who has immediate concerns or symptoms should consult her GP who, where appropriate, will refer her to the symptomatic services in her area.