Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health his plans for a bowel cancer screening programme; if he will outline the resources, including the way money is provided for bowel cancer screening measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2150/13]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he supports the calls for a bowel cancer screening programme to be introduced here in view of the fact that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2151/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the national colorectal screening programme, BowelScreen, commenced in November, 2012. The programme has been introduced on a phased basis to men and women between the ages of 60-69 years. 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 has begun with this latter age cohort (a population of approximately 500,000). It is anticipated that the first screening 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 group. The estimated cost of the programme in 2013, based on an uptake rate of 60% among the target population, is €4.3m with further costs in subsequent years as the programme expands. The programme has been shown through a Health Technology Assessment to be cost effective as it will very quickly reduce mortality among the screened population. While a multi-annual budget has not been set aside for the Programme, it will continue to be prioritised into the future. I regard the colorectal screening programme as a national priority and I am committed to supporting it as it develops.