Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when women in each of the counties of the south and west will be included in the BreastCheck programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32154/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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. The National Cancer Screening Service is making every effort to roll-out the programme to all remaining counties as quickly as possible. Screening has already been made available in Counties Roscommon, Galway, Mayo and Tipperary North Riding in the West and will commence in Limerick by early November. Screening has been made available in Counties Cork and Waterford in the South.

The Deputy's specific question in relation to the roll-out to each of the other counties in the South and the West is the responsibility of the National Cancer Screening Service. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Service to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matters raised.