Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if BreastCheck will be made available for women over 64 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6071/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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BreastCheck provides free mammograms to all women aged 50 – 64. Since October 2009 Breastcheck has been available in all counties. During 2009 over 122,000 women were screened and this number will increase during 2010. It is my intention to extend Breastcheck to women in the 65-69 age group as soon as resources and capacity allow. In the meantime women of any age who have concerns about breast cancer should seek the advice of their GP who will, if appropriate, refer them to the symptomatic breast services in one of the eight designated specialist cancer centres.

The National Cancer Screening Service has been asked to review the potential for efficiencies and cost savings in areas identified in the HIQA Report of the evaluation of the use of resources in the national population based cancer screening programmes and associated services. Any savings identified may be used to meet the costs of further development of screening services, including the BreastCheck programme. The immediate priority for the National Cancer Screening Service is to ensure that preparatory work for the national colorectal screening programme takes place this year and in 2011 in order for screening to commence in early 2012 for men and women in the 60 to 69 age group.