Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that tens of thousands of cancer and smear tests are being carried out at hospital laboratories here which are not accredited and that only 30% of crucial diagnostic work is being carried out at accredited laboratories. [21861/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The national roll out of the Irish Cervical Screening Programme is planned for January, 2008. The National Screening 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. The Service is developing new contractual arrangements for tests and has my full support in this regard.

As regards other diagnostic work, I have asked my officials to seek information from the HSE about the current position in relation to accreditation and report this directly to the Deputy.