Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 164: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the cervical screening service is not available free of charge to women beyond 60 years of age and prior to their availing of the free medical card at 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14534/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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A pilot cervical screening programme commenced in 2000 covering the area of the former Mid-Western Health Board. Under the programme, cervical screening is offered, free of charge, to approximately 74,000 women in the 25 to 60 age group, at five year intervals. The evidence internationally is that the risk of developing cervical cancer decreases with age and it is for this reason that the programme has an upper age limit of 60 years. A report on the programme prepared by an international expert has recommended that it should be rolled out nationally in respect of the 25 to 60 year age cohort.

I am fully committed to the national roll-out of a cervical screening programme in line with international best practice. The Department has requested the Health Service Executive to prepare a detailed implementation plan for a national programme. The plan is to have cervical screening managed as a national call-recall programme via effective governance structures that provide overall leadership and direction, in terms of quality assurance, accountability and value for money. All elements of the programme, call-recall, smear taking, laboratories and treatment services must be quality assured, organised and managed to deliver a single integrated service.

Significant preparatory work is well under way involving the introduction of new and improved cervical tests, improved quality assurance training and the preparation of a national population register. I made available an additional €9 million to the executive for cancer services development in 2006, including the continuation of preparations for the roll-out.

Outside of this pilot programme, women seeking cervical smear tests are charged for the service unless it forms part of a recognised protocol for the ongoing treatment of an individual patient's illness. Any necessary follow up treatment is available to all women within the public hospital system.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 165: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the national breast-screening service is made available only to women aged between 50 and 64 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14535/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, is currently available to women in the 50 to 64 age group in the eastern, north-eastern, south-eastern and midland regions. There are approximately 160,000 women 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. There are approximately 130,000 women 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, thereby continuing the screening of women in the programme who have reached 65 years of age. There is no evidence of the value of population based breast screening programmes for women under 50 years of age and there are no plans to extend the programme to this age group.

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