Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 396: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the BreastCheck clinic adjacent to the Victoria Hospital, Cork will open on schedule in September 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9611/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The National Cancer Screening Service has informed my Department that the static unit in the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital in Cork is on schedule for hand-over in September followed by a three-week commissioning period. I have made available an additional €26.7m capital funding for the construction of this unit and one at University College Hospital Galway and the provision of five additional mobile units and state of the art digital equipment. 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 and I have approved an additional 69 posts for roll-out. BreastCheck appointed the Clinical Directors for the South and West last November and has recently appointed three Consultant Radiologists, two Consultant Surgeons and two Consultant Histopathologists, all with a special interest in breast disease. The recruitment of Radiographers and other staff is under way.