Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that enough funding is in place in 2013 and the years ahead to keep bowel cancer screening operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47427/12]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if bowel cancer screening will be available to all persons aged between 55 and 74; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47428/12]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health when it is intended to commence the bowel screening programme; the hospitals approved to provide colonoscopies on foot of the initial screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48381/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1002, 1003 and 1150 together.

Plans for the implementation of a national colorectal screening programme are at an advanced stage within the HSE-National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) and the programme will be introduced on a phased basis shortly. Live testing of the programme is now underway to ensure that all systems and processes operate effectively.

When fully implemented the programme will offer free screening to men and women aged 55-74 every two years. As 50% of cancers within this age group are found in people aged 60-69 the programme will begin with this latter age cohort (a population of approximately 500,000). It is anticipated that the first round will take up to three years to complete. Over time the phasing of the programme will allow development of colonoscopy capacity to cater for the full 55-74 year age population.

Fifteen candidate colonoscopy units have been identified around the country to support the screening programme. Each candidate unit has responsibility to take a number of actions to become a screening colonoscopy unit which include achieving or be well on the pathway to achieving NHS JAG accreditation, demonstrating capability of meeting the needs of the screening programme in accordance with its Quality Assurance Standards and maintaining service requirements for symptomatic patients within national targets.

The candidate colonoscopy units are:

Cavan General Hospital;

Connolly Hospital, Dublin;

Kerry General Hospital,Tralee;

Letterkenny General Hospital;

Louth County Hospital, Dundalk;

Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar;

Mercy University Hospital, Cork;

Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore;

Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis;

Sligo General Hospital;

South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel;

St James’s Hospital, Dublin;

St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin;

The Adelaide and Meath Hospital Dublin incorporating the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght;

Wexford General Hospital.

The process of approving the colonoscopy units is underway, and a key objective is to ensure that the screening programme does not interfere with the symptomatic colonoscopy services in these hospitals. The NCSS is confident that there will be adequate capacity to provide this important part of the programme.

I regard the colorectal screening programme as a national priority. I am pleased that it will shortly commence, and I am committed to supporting it as it develops.