Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to extend BreastCheck for women over 65. [10398/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, is available to women in the 50 to 64 age group in the eastern, north eastern, south eastern and midland regions. Approximately 160,000 women are in the target age group in these regions and since the programme commenced more than 1,600 cancers have been detected.

Planning is under way for the roll-out of the programme to the remaining regions in the country. Approximately 130,000 women are in the target population for screening in the southern and western regions. BreastCheck is confident that the target date of next year for the commencement of the roll-out will be met. On full roll-out, women in the 50 to 64 age group in every county will have access to breast screening and follow-up treatment where appropriate.

When the national roll-out of the programme is sufficiently developed and it is assured that a quality service is being delivered at national level, consideration will be given to including older women and thereby continuing the screening of women in the programme who have reached 65 years of age.