Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to prioritise the establishment of a national bowel cancer screening programme, as recommended by the National Cancer Screening Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6657/09]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the proposed national bowel cancer screening programme will commence; if the funding promised for 2009 to commence work on the planning of the programme is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6547/09]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to prioritise the establishment of a national bowel cancer screening programme, as recommended by the National Cancer Screening Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6951/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 68 and 106 together.

In December 2008, I received the Final Report of the Expert Group on Colorectal Screening. The Expert Group was established by the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) to study the medical and scientific evidence concerning screening for colorectal cancer and to make recommendations to the Board of the NCSS about the potential benefits of introducing a population-based screening programme for this condition in Ireland.

The NCSS has also requested the Health Information and Quality Authority to conduct a Health Technology Assessment on a colorectal screening programme. This is an important element of the overall assessment process. I expect this to be completed shortly, at which stage I will be in a position to decide on the introduction of a colorectal screening programme and the resources that would be necessary for this.