Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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422. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the free BreastCheck programme to women over 65; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47723/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced the extension of the BreastCheck screening programme to women aged 65 to 69 years of age. Planning for this is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence towards the end of 2015. The age extension will be expanded on an incremental basis and it will be fully rolled out in 2021. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the Breastcheck Programme.

The extension will result in those who are already being invited to screening as part of the current programme having their period of screening extended until they are 69 years of age. Those aged 65 will be the first to be invited. The extension will be implemented on a phased basis in order to manage the additional screening and follow up involved.

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 cancer centres.