James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the provision that has been made in the Estimates of expenditure for 2009 of her Department and of the Health Service Executive to provide for the HPV vaccination programme; the number of doses she estimates that will be administered; the timeframe for the programme commencement and completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37854/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to allow the vaccination against human papilloa virus which causes a precancerous condition, to be made available on the medical card in view of the fact that the State is preparing to vaccinate all teenage girls against this virus; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the cost of obtaining this vaccine is approximately €600 which puts it outside the reach of people on low incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38267/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 263 together.

The economic situation has rapidly and seriously deteriorated. Public resources, including for health, are very scarce indeed and will remain so. I have decided that the best that can be achieved in these circumstances is to prioritise funding for the development of the cervical screening programme and treatment services at the eight designated cancer centres, which includes the challenge of funding very expensive cancer drugs. I will not therefore be proceeding with the introduction of a HPV vaccination programme. The continuation and expansion of the Cancer Control Programme under Professor Tom Keane remains a priority and funding of €15 million has been made available for this.

At the moment we are rolling out the National Cervical Screening Programme, CervicalCheck. The Programme will provide free smear tests through primary care settings to the 1.1 million women living in Ireland aged between 25 and 60 years. A successful national programme has the potential to cut mortality rates from cervical cancer by up to 80%.