Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the breast screening programme will be extended to Kilkenny city and council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24651/05]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 307: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the breast cancer screening programme will be extended to County Kilkenny; if so, the timeframe involved; if women over 64 years of age will be included in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24797/05]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 449: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when finance will be provided to extend BreastCheck to women over the age of 65 in County Kildare. [25898/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 307 and 449 together.

The national breast screening programme, BreastCheck, commenced in 2000 and covered the eastern, north-eastern and midland regions of the country. In 2003, the Minister for Health and Children announced the extension of the programme to Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. Screening commenced in County Wexford in March last year and in County Carlow in April of this year. The BreastCheck programme expects to commence screening in County Kilkenny early in 2006. The roll-out of the national breast screening programme to the remaining counties in the country is a major priority in the development of cancer services. A design team has been appointed to draw up detailed plans for two new clinical units, one at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital in Cork and one at University College Hospital in Galway. Capital funding of approximately €21 million has been made available. The Department is in discussions with BreastCheck about the revenue requirements for the programme. There are approximately 130,000 women in the target population for screening in the southern and western regions. It is expected that screening will commence in these regions in 2007. That will ensure that all women in the 50 to 64 age group in every county have access to breast screening and follow-up treatment where appropriate. When the national roll-out of the programme is sufficiently developed and it has been assured that a quality service is being delivered at national level, consideration will be given to including older women and continuing the screening of women in the programme who have reached 65 years of age.