Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if cancer screening will be provided for people over the age of 64, both male and female; if she will remove the inequality that exists in relation to the screening services provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13360/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Evidence based population screening programmes are an essential element of the National Cancer Control Strategy which I published last June. As the Deputy is aware, on 1 January this year, I established a National Cancer Screening Service Board which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme, both of which will be rolled out nationally this year. The total allocation to the new Service in 2007 is €33m. This is a 71% increase on the 2006 allocation to the Programmes and includes an additional €8m for BreastCheck and an additional €5m for the Irish Cervical Screening Programme. The Service will also advise on the implementation of a national colorectal screening programme.

The Irish Cervical Screening Programme Phase One currently offers free cervical screening to women aged between 25 and 60 years in the Mid-Western Region. The National Programme will provide screening every three years for women aged 25-44 years and screening every five years for women aged 45-60 years. Under the National Breast Screening Programme, screening is offered free of charge to all women in the Eastern, North Eastern, Midland and parts of the South Eastern areas in the 50-64 age group.

When the national roll-out of the BreastCheck programme is sufficiently developed and it is assured that a quality service is being delivered at national level, consideration will be given to including older women and thereby continuing the screening of women in the programme who have reached 65 years of age. Any woman irrespective of her age or residence who has immediate concerns or symptoms should contact her GP who, where appropriate, will refer her to the symptomatic services in her area.