Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the national roll-out of the proposed screening programme for cervical cancer will take place; the reason for the delay in its roll out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29370/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The National Cancer Screening Service is planning to roll out the National Cervical Screening Programme on a national basis early next year. I have allocated additional revenue funding of €5.0m to the Service this year for this purpose and an additional 30 posts have been approved. Women aged 25 to 44 years old will be screened every 3 years; women aged 45 to 60 will be screened every 5 years. 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.