Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 165: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that the roll out of BreastCheck to the Kerry area will happen before the end of 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19073/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have met with representatives of BreastCheck and they are fully aware of my wish to have the programme rolled out to the remaining regions in the country as quickly as possible. For this to happen, essential elements of the roll out must be in place including adequate staffing, effective training and quality assurance programmes. Capital funding in the region of €21m has been made available to provide static screening units and five mobile units. My Department made additional revenue funding of €2.3m available to BreastCheck this year and approval has been given for an additional 69 posts to facilitate roll-out. BreastCheck is in the process of shortlisting applicants to construct the new clinical units at the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital, Cork and University College Hospital Galway. BreastCheck recently interviewed for Clinical Directors for both regions and has commenced the recruitment process for other essentialstaff.

The BreastCheck clinical unit in the Southern Area at the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital will have three associated mobile units. The area of coverage is counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary S.R., 71,188 women are in the target population for invitation to screening, or 35,594 per annum. This is expected to result in the detection of in excess of 174 cancers per year in the first round and a minimum of 87 per year in subsequent rounds. BreastCheck is confident that the target date of next year for the commencement of roll out to Southern and Western regions will be met.