Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 50% of medical card holders are likely to have abnormal smear test results especially in poorer area and the action he will take on this matter. [4550/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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CervicalCheck, the national cervical screening programme is available to over 1.1 million eligible women aged 25 to 60 years. CervicalCheck aims to reduce the incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer by detecting changes in the cells of the cervix before they become cancerous. It is a priority for the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) to ensure that its programmes are accessible to all eligible women in the population. Some women experience challenges and barriers that hinder their access to screening services for different reasons including fear, anxiety, intellectual and physical disabilities, language barriers and literacy difficulties.

The NCSS has a comprehensive communications and screening promotion approach that aims to inform, educate and encourage women to participate in the CervicalCheck programme. Communication includes public relations, advertising and screening promotion. The NCSS has a team of screening promotion officers based in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick who work on a national basis. The overarching aim of screening promotion is to increase awareness. The team has implemented specific initiatives to help overcome barriers and to encourage eligible women, particularly harder-to-reach women, to participate in CervicalCheck.