Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the rationale behind the decision to outsource cervical screening services to a laboratory (details supplied) in view of the fact that Irish laboratories, whose staffs have provided this service for many years in the absence of a national screening programme, already meet international best practice criteria; if specialist graduates from the training programme established between the Irish cervical screening programme, the Academy of Medical Laboratory Sciences and DIT Kevin Street will be surplus to requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19283/08]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on a case (details supplied). [19358/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reasons it was decided to outsource cervical screening services to a company based in the US; her views on the impact this decision will have on health care personnel in this country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19458/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 203, 204 and 218 together.

The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) have announced a preferred bidder for the provision of laboratory testing services for the National Cervical Screening Programme. This is an important milestone which will enable the NCSS to launch the first quality assured, population based National Cervical Screening Programme for women in Ireland aged 25-60 years.

In keeping with EU procurement legislation, the procurement process is being conducted in an open and competitive manner. Submissions were invited from local and international laboratories during the process. The NCSS has concluded that the preferred bidder can deliver a service that meets all of the required quality criteria. The Deputies will appreciate that quality is a critical requirement of the new programme. The National Hospitals Office (NHO) of the HSE has a commitment to staff currently employed in cytology services, and has met with their representative. Any decisions regarding reassignment of employees will be addressed after the National Cancer Screening Service has completed the procurement process for cytology services.