Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has received a report from the Health Service Executive on the progress made in relation to the cervical screening programme; and the reason it has not been possible to meet the targets set for this programme. [9456/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to the McGoogan Report on the Irish Cervical Screening Programme. This Report was commissioned by the former Health Boards Executive and submitted to my Department in 2004. It recommended that cervical screening be managed as a national call/recall programme via effective governance structures that provide overall leadership and direction in terms of policy, quality assurance, accountability and value for money. It is my objective to have such a programme rolled out, beginning late this year, based on an affordable model. For that purpose, on 1 January 2007, I established a National Cancer Screening Service which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme.

The total allocation to the new Service is €33m; this is a 71% increase on the 2006 allocation to the Programmes. This includes additional funding of €5m for 2007 to the Service to commence roll out of the Cervical Screening Programme at the end of this year. 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. All elements of the programme — call/recall, smear taking, laboratories, colposcopy and treatment services — will be quality assured, organised and managed to deliver a single integrated service. An effective national cervical screening programme will result in a substantial reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer.