Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the process involved in contacting women to remind them of their right to a free cervical cancer smear test; the numbers contacted each year; the way they are contacted; the effort made to ensure the database is up to date; the action taken when someone is uncontactable or has not taken up the offer or reminder of a smear test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14819/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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CervicalCheck is a programme provided by the HSE's National Cancer Screening Service. From September 2009, in line with best international practice, CervicalCheck changed from an open access entry system to an organised call, re-call system of invitation. This change will ensure that an effective and efficient population approach to screening that maximises target population coverage is maintained.

CervicalCheck has developed a national register of in excess of 1.1 million eligible women aged 25 to 60 through up-to-date information received from the Department of Social Protection and the women who register directly. In registering a woman, CervicalCheck requires a minimum dataset to ensure correct identification and matching of clinical information. Over each screening round, all eligible women aged 25 to 60 will be invited for screening and invitation letters will be posted to women evenly across all age ranges.

Any woman who has not had a smear test in three years or more, can fast-track a letter of invitation through a choice of on-line registration on www.cervicalcheck.ie, or by completing and returning a form by Freepost or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55.

In 2009 there was an extensive national promotional campaign for CervicalCheck in publications specifically targeting women aged 25 to 60. Information on CervicalCheck was also targeted at General Practitioners in medical journals.

During 2009, the first full year of the programme, approximately 280,000 women were screened.

Due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive, it is not possible for the Executive to supply more current information in relation to CervicalCheck.