James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the details of the implementation of the colorectal screening programme, including the number of hospitals that have expressed interest in being a screening unit; the number of screening units envisaged under the plan; the location of these units; the colonoscopy capacity that must be built; the number of persons who will benefit from the programme; when screening will commence; the cost of rolling out the screening programme; the progress made in implementing the plan to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25042/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Work has already commenced on the establishment of a national colorectal cancer screening programme. This programme will initially be offered to men and women aged between 60 and 69 years. Screening will commence in early 2012 following an intensive period of preparation which began in January 2010. The programme will be extended to all those in the 55-74 year age group as logistics and resources allow.

The HSE's National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) has responsibility for the implementation of the screening programme and it is working closely with colleagues across the Health Service Executive on preparations for this.

As part of the two year pre-implementation phase for the programme, the NCSS is undertaking a series of baseline assessment visits nationwide to assess colonoscopy capacity in existing hospital services. Between 10 and 12 screening centres will be required by the programme. One of the criteria for hospitals wishing to participate in the programme is that they reduce waiting times for urgent colonoscopies to less than 4 weeks prior to the initiation of the screening programme. Thirty public hospitals expressed an interest in providing colonoscopy services to support a national screening programme and all visits are due for completion by December 2010. The outcome of the baseline assessment visits will identify potential areas for improvement and additional investment and staffing requirements. The NCSS will report these findings to my Department.

There are estimated to be around 400,000 people in the initial target age group (60 to 69 years). Half of these will be invited for screening each year. Based on expected uptake rates and incidence rates, it is expected that around 6,000 colonoscopies would take place each year within the screening programme. Currently, around 59,000 colonoscopies are performed in the public healthcare system annually.

The cost of the screening programme during the pre-implementation phase will be found from within existing NCSS resources. The programme will be introduced in early 2012 to the 60 – 69 year age cohort, with additional costs of at least €5.5m for this purpose. There will also be costs associated with the refurbishment and equipping of the colonoscopy centres to ensure they meet appropriate standards. The programme will be extended to those aged 55 to 74 years of age as logistics and resources allow.

The screening programme will not be allowed to adversely affect waiting times for urgent colonoscopies in the symptomatic services. The need to comply with the 4 week time limit for urgent colonoscopies has been emphasised to the HSE and I am satisfied that the public health service is capable of delivering a quality assured service for both symptomatic and screening colonoscopies.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if all patients in need of a colonoscopy are seen within her one month target waiting time; the number of patients waiting more than one month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25043/10]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons waiting for a colonoscopy in public hospitals; the number of persons waiting between four weeks and three months, between three and six months, between six and 12 months, between one and two years or more than two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25044/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together

The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational one and would, in the normal course of events, be referred to the HSE for direct reply. However, I will set out the position for the Deputy in so far as information is available to my Department.

In approving its National Service Plan for 2010, I have instructed the HSE to ensure that urgent colonoscopies are provided within four weeks. In the case of non-urgent colonoscopies, the HSE has instructed hospitals to refer patients waiting for longer than three months to the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

The latest information (May 2010) available to my Department shows that in the 19 hospitals which reported data on colonoscopy waiting times, no patient is waiting longer than 28 days for an urgent colonoscopy. In the case of non-urgent colonoscopies, the latest figures (May 2010) available to my Department from the NTPF show 877 people waiting between three and six months, 179 people waiting between six and twelve months and a total of 25 people waiting longer than a year. Colonoscopies are carried out for a range of possible conditions and this figure would include cases where cancer is not suspected.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of bowel cancer to the health services per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25045/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I regret that due to industrial action I am not in a position to provide a substantive response to your Parliamentary Question. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of bowel cancer over the past 20 years; the projected numbers of bowel cancer over the next 20 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25046/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Statistics in relation to cancer incidence are collated by the National Cancer Registry. My Department has asked the Director of the Registry to examine this matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: 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. [25047/10]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if BreastCheck was extended to the 65 years to 69 years age group, the number of women who would benefit from screening; the estimated cost of extending screening to this age group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25048/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.

BreastCheck provides free mammograms to all women aged 50 – 64. The national roll-out of BreastCheck reached all counties in 2009. During 2009 approximately 122,000 women were screened. The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) projected cost of BreastCheck in 2010 is €22.4m.

It remains 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 NCSS has estimated that there are approximately 85,000 women in the age group 65-69 and that the additional cost of expanding the programme over a number of years would be around €5 million, with a capital investment of approximately €3 million. However its main priority in 2010 is to maximise national uptake in the 50 - 64 year age cohort.

The other priority for the NCSS 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.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of breast cancer to the health services per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25049/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I regret that due to industrial action I am not in a position to provide a substantive response to your Parliamentary Question. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.