Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of mobile BreastCheck units in the west and north west of Ireland; the cost of operating these units; the number of patients screened through these mobile units in each month in 2007 and the location of each of the units over the periods in question; the planned programme for the remainder of 2007 and 2008; when BreastCheck will be fully rolled out throughout the west and north west; the completion date for all existing women in the target category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21501/07]

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

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 to the National Cancer Screening Service for this year to meet the additional costs involved. The full complement of 111 staff for roll-out has been approved.

I have also made available an additional €26.7m capital funding for the construction of two new clinical units and the provision of seven additional mobile units and state of the art digital equipment. The static units at University College Hospital Galway and the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital in Cork are due to be completed in late Autumn and BreastCheck has confirmed that the roll-out will commence in October. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the Western Area at University College Hospital Galway will have three associated mobile units. BreastCheck has already commenced screening in the West, with the provision last May of a mobile unit at Roscommon County Hospital.

Screening in individual counties will be dictated by BreastCheck's management and operational considerations. The Deputy's specific questions in relation to operating costs of mobile units, numbers of patients screened in each month, location over the periods in question and detailed phasing and timelines are the responsibility of the National Cancer Screening Service. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Service to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matters raised.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans and the timescale for extending BreastCheck and the national cervical cancer screening programme to County Tipperary. [21511/07]

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

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 €8m to the National Cancer Screening Service for this year to meet the additional costs involved. The full complement of 111 staff for roll-out has been approved and recruitment 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 seven additional mobile units and state of the art digital equipment. The static units at University College Hospital Galway and the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital in Cork are due to be completed in late Autumn and BreastCheck has confirmed that the programme will commence national roll-out in October. Screening in individual counties will be dictated by BreastCheck's management and operational considerations.

I have allocated additional revenue funding of €5.0m to the National Cancer Screening Service this year for the roll-out of the Irish Cervical Screening Programme and an additional 30 posts have been approved. The national roll out of the Programme is planned for January 2008. 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 national service. Accordingly, the Service is not planning to roll out the programme incrementally on a regional basis.