Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 631: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in recruiting clinical directors and other essential staff for the roll-out of BreastCheck to the west; the progress made in the appointment of contractors to construct clinical units in Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28485/06]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 636: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the developments which have taken place to ensure that BreastCheck is available to women from the Waterford constituency in January 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28490/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 636 together.

A breast screening programme is a complex multi-disciplinary undertaking that requires considerable expertise and management involving population registers, call/recall systems, mammography, pathology and appropriate treatment and follow up. A programme must be quality assured and acceptable to women who attend for screening. The first phase of the programme is of a high quality and a similar quality in the West and South is essential.

I have met with representatives of BreastCheck and they are fully aware of my wish to have a quality assured 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. I have made additional revenue funding of €2.3m available to BreastCheck to meet the additional costs of roll out. I have also approved an additional 69 posts. BreastCheck recently appointed Clinical Directors for the Southern and Western regions and the recruitment of Consultants and other staff is now underway.

BreastCheck also requires considerable capital investment in the construction of two new clinical units and in the provision of five additional mobile units and state of the art digital equipment. I have made available an additional €21m capital funding to BreastCheck for this purpose. Demolition works at South Infirmary/Victoria University Hospital were completed this month. The Department has issued approval to BreastCheck to award contracts for the construction of the static units at the South Infirmary/Victoria University Hospital, Cork and University College Hospital Galway. BreastCheck is confident that the target date of next year for the commencement of roll out to the Southern and Western regions will be met.