James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the national roll out of the BreastCheck service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26780/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to extend access to BreastCheck to women not covered at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26781/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together.

BreastCheck commenced roll-out in the Western Region in May 2007 and in the Southern region last October. I officially opened the BreastCheck clinical static units in Galway and Cork last December. The expansion of the BreastCheck programme to the Southern region covers counties Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Tipperary South Riding. The expansion of the BreastCheck programme to the West covers counties Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Tipperary North Riding.

An additional €26.7 million capital funding was provided for the construction of the two new clinical static units, eight additional mobile units and the provision of state of the art digital equipment. A total of €15 million additional revenue funding has been allocated to cater for national roll-out of the programme. The full complement of 111 staff for roll-out has been approved and recruitment is underway.

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 focussed 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.