Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the age group of women who are screened for breast cancer here; the cost of operating this programme; if she will reduce the screening age in view of the high prevalence of breast cancer among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7771/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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BreastCheck — the National Breast Screening Programme provides free breast mammograms to women aged 50-64 on a two-yearly cycle. It is estimated that the BreastCheck programme will cost approximately €24m in 2009.

The expert advice from BreastCheck and from the National Cancer Forum, as contained in its National Strategy for Cancer Control, is that following the completion of national roll out of the programme for women aged 50 — 64, 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. BreastCheck will have reached all counties by the end of this year. There are no plans at present to screen women under the age of 50. 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.