Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the roll out of BreastCheck around the country, per centre, and the latest cost estimates of each centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6267/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am committed to ensuring that the BreastCheck service is rolled out to the remaining regions in the country as quickly as possible. I have allocated additional revenue funding of €8 million for this year to meet the additional costs involved. I have approved an additional 69 posts for roll-out; the Clinical Directors for the South and West have been appointed and the recruitment of other staff is underway. I have also made available an additional €26.7m capital funding for the construction of two new clinical units and the provision of five additional mobile units and state of the art digital equipment. The first round of screening will commence in the South and West in the Spring which will take around 27 months to complete. The BreastCheck Programme is designed to offer repeat screening within an interval of 21-27 months. In relation to the specific issues raised, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the National Cancer Screening Service to respond directly to the Deputy.