Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has received the Health Information and Quality Authority health technology assessment on colorectal screening; when this assessment will be published; when the first phase of roll-out will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20579/09]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the national bowel screening programme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20489/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 98 together.

In April 2007, the National Cancer Screening Service Board (NCSS) established an Expert Advisory Group to study the medical and scientific evidence concerning Screening for Colorectal Cancer and to make recommendations to the Board about the desirability of introducing a population-based screening programme. The Board of the NCSS approved the Second (Final) Report of the Expert Group at its meeting on 20 November and it was submitted to me on 3 December 2008.

The Report of the Expert Group could not be comprehensively considered until the completion of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA), carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). The Board of HIQA approved the HTA report on 25 March and it was submitted to me on 17 April 2009.

Both reports will be published when I have completed detailed consideration of the recommendations, the funding required and the method of putting that in place.

Colorectal cancer is the cause of death of approximately 950 people each year in Ireland. This compares to 666 deaths from breast cancer, for example. Because of our ageing population and the long time in people's lives over which risk factors are built up, we can expect an increase in the numbers of colorectal cancer cases in the coming years. The National Cancer Registry, in its report on Cancer Projections 2005 to 2035, projects that there will be approximately 3,402 cases of colorectal cancer in 2020.

As with many cancers, early detection and treatment is one of the most effective measures to avoid premature death. Thorough population-based screening programmes are critically important, with proven effectiveness in breast cancer and cervical cancer, where we now have screening programmes being actively rolled out.

For these reasons, colorectal screening is my top priority for the next preventive and early detection services in our National Cancer Control Programme. I am pleased to note that the Irish Cancer Society shares this priority and at a recent meeting said that it would actively support a colorectal screening programme.

I intend that it will have the first call on new resources, which will be found principally by cost-saving measures elsewhere. Other priorities for new developments in cancer prevention and early detection will be capable of being implemented to the extent that sufficient cost-saving measures are found.

With the benefit of the report of the Expert Group and the Health Technology Assessment, I am now considering the design and implementation of a colorectal cancer screening programme in the most cost-effective way.