Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 230: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans in place to roll out a national cervical screening programme; if there will be pilot areas; if so, the location of these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21698/07]

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

I have allocated additional revenue funding of €5 million 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. The Service is planning to have cervical screening managed as a national call/recall programme via effective governance structures that provide overall leadership and direction, in terms of quality assurance, accountability and value for money. 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.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 231: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the BreastCheck mobile unit in County Roscommon will provide a full-time five day week service to women in County Roscommon until the BreastCheck unit in Galway opens. [21699/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 232: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the BreastCheck mobile unit in County Roscommon is providing a five day full time service; and the number of women from County Roscommon who have been screened by this service since it opened earlier in 2007. [21700/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 233: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of mobile units of BreastCheck ready to start operating in the west and north west when the BreastCheck unit in County Galway opens. [21701/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 234: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will put in place a pilot BreastCheck programme in the west and north west to screen women aged 65 and over. [21702/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 235: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the BreastCheck mobile unit in County Roscommon will provide a full-time service to women in County Roscommon after the Breast Check unit in County Galway opens. [21703/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 236: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are schedules in place for the roll out of BreastCheck in the west and north west when the BreastCheck unit in Galway opens; and if so, the details of same. [21704/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 236, inclusive, together.

I am committed to ensuring that the BreastCheck service is rolled out to the remaining regions 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 €26.7 million 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. As the Deputy is aware, BreastCheck has already commenced screening in the West, with the provision last May of a mobile unit at Roscommon County Hospital. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the Western Area at University College Hospital, Galway will have three associated mobile units. Screening in individual counties will be dictated by BreastCheck's management and operational considerations.

The expert advice from BreastCheck and the National Cancer Forum, as contained in the National Strategy for Cancer Control, is that following the national extension of the current programme, the upper age limit should be extended to women aged 69. As the priority of BreastCheck is to screen women who have not yet been screened, it is fully focused on the commencement of the first round of screening in the West and South. I will consider extending the age limit as recommended when the national roll-out of the programme is sufficiently developed and it is assured that a quality service is being delivered. Any woman irrespective of her age who has immediate concerns or symptoms should contact her GP who, where appropriate, will refer her to the symptomatic services in her area. The Deputy's specific questions about the operation of mobile units, the number of patients screened in Roscommon 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 about these matters.