Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

581. To ask the Minister for Health if and when bowel screening will be made available to the over-70s; and the reason persons under 70 are not screened. [49698/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 first round of screening will have been offered to the full cohort in this age group by the end of 2015. The programme is focusing on those aged 60-69 years in the initial phase because this cohort stands to benefit most from bowel screening.

The programme is being implemented on a phased basis and will be expanded over time to the full 55 to 74 years of age target population.

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