Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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173. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding bowel cancer. [23644/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, commenced offering free bowel screening nationwide to men and women aged 60 to 69 years in late 2012. The programme is being implemented on a phased basis and will be expanded over time to the full 55-74 years target population.

The programme is focusing on those aged 60-69 years in the initial phase because, from a population perspective, this cohort will benefit most from bowel screening.

BowelScreen encourages everybody, regardless of age, to become more bowel aware and to contact their GP if they have any concerns.