Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to establish a national cancer screening register; if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2710/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The National Cancer Screening Service which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme (ICSP) was established on 1 January 2007 and will deliver both programmes nationally. This will maximise the expertise in both programmes, ensure improved efficiency and develop a single governance model for cancer screening. The Service compiles a register of women eligible for screening from information supplied by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, General Medical Services and private health insurance providers. The Service also provides facilities for eligible women to self register to the programmes.

The Health (Provision of Information) Act 1997 allows for the provision of information to the National Cancer Registry Board, the Minister for Health and certain Health Bodies, for the purposes of cancer screening programmes, and to provide for related matters. The National Cancer Screening Service has in place a register for both the breast and cervical screening programmes and under the Act can compile a register for any future screening programmes. The issue of population registers is currently being considered by my Department in the context of the preparation of the forthcoming Health Information Bill.