James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment to complete the national roll out of BreastCheck; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30027/09]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment to extend BreastCheck to women not covered at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30028/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.

BreastCheck commenced roll-out in the Western and Southern regions in 2007 and is now screening in all but three of the 26 counties. Of these three remaining counties, the consent process has already begun in Co Clare and will begin in Co Donegal in September and in Co Leitrim in October with appointments being issued following the consent process. The programme is designed to offer repeat screening within an interval of 21-27 months. 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.

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.

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.