Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on extending breast screening to women aged 65 to 70 years in regions where BreastCheck has been in operation for a number of years. [2546/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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BreastCheck commenced roll-out in the Western Region last May and in the Southern region last October. I officially opened the BreastCheck clinical static units in Cork and Galway last December. The expert advice from BreastCheck and from the National Cancer Forum, as contained in the National Strategy for Cancer Control, is that following the national extension of the programme, the upper age limit should be extended to women aged 69 years. The priority of BreastCheck is to screen women who have not yet been screened and accordingly it is fully focused at present on the completion 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.