Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 695: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of women who died of breast cancer in areas (details supplied) for each of the years 2000 to 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1366/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Central Statistics Office has informed my Department that under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9), malignant neoplasm of the female breast is included in code 174. The number of deaths with this underlying cause in the last 6 years is as follows:

Figures provided for 2005 and 2006 are by year of registration and are provisional.

The National Cancer Registry provides detailed information on the incidence and mortality for cancer in Ireland. Cancer survival is improving in Ireland for all of the major cancers, including breast cancer. In the case of breast cancer in women this increase in survival in recent years is statistically significant.

The Registry compared five year survival from cancer for the period 1998 — 2000 with that for 1995 — 1997 and found that, for women, breast cancer survival improved from 73% of women surviving five years after diagnosis to 78%.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 696: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of women who died of cervical cancer in areas (details supplied) for each of the years 2000 to 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1367/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Central Statistics Office has informed my Department that under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9), malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri is included in code 180. The number of deaths with this underlying cause in the last 6 years is as follows:

Figures provided for 2005 and 2006 are by year of registration and are provisional.

Ireland's relative 5 year survival rate for women diagnosed with cervical cancer is improving with the percentage survival rate increasing from 59.6% between 1994 — 1997 to 69% for the period 1998 — 2002.

An effective national cervical screening programme will result in a substantial reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer. It is my objective to have such a programme rolled out, beginning late this year, based on an affordable model. For that purpose, on the 1st January 2007 I established a National Cancer Screening Service which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme. This will maximise the expertise in both programmes, ensure improved efficiency and develop a single governance model for cancer screening. I have allocated additional funding of €5m for 2007 to the Service to commence roll out of the Cervical Screening Programme. The total allocation to the new Service is €33m, this is a 71% increase in the 2006 allocation to these Programmes. Significant preparatory work is well underway involving the introduction of new and improved cervical tests, improved quality assurance training and the preparation for a national population register. 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, colposcopy and treatment services must be quality assured, organised and managed to deliver a single integrated service.