Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to extend the BreastCheck facility for those over 64 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43562/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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 roll out of the programme to women between the ages of 50 and 64 years, 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.