Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when BreastCheck will be extended to Limerick and the mid-west region; if the Health Service Executive will be instructed to enter into a contact arrangement with Barrington's Hospital private clinic for the use of their mammographer by public patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20614/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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New facilities for the national expansion of BreastCheck are included in the health capital investment framework 2005 to 2009. My Department recently gave approval to BreastCheck to advertise for the appointment of a design team to work up detailed plans for the design and construction of two clinical units, one at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, Cork and the other at University College Hospital, Galway. The catchment area of these centres will include Limerick and the mid-west region. The selection process for the design team is well advanced. BreastCheck anticipates that the shortlisting, interviews and fee negotiations will be complete by the end of July 2005. Discussions on manpower requirements are currently taking place involving BreastCheck, the Health Service Executive and my Department. I am confident that the target date of 2007 for the commencement of the national roll-out will be met.

I understand that discussions are shortly to take place between BreastCheck and Barrington's Hospital medical centre concerning the centre's wish to provide mammography services as part of a population based screening programme. The provision of mammography tests outside of a population based screening programme is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter examined and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.