Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the roll out of BreastCheck for women in the 65-69 age group will not be complete until 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2394/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Planning for the age extension of BreastCheck to 65 - 69 year olds is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the BreastCheck Programme.

The age extension will be implemented on an incremental basis in line with the capacity of the system to manage the additional screening and follow up workload. BreastCheck will need to recruit and train additional radiographers, medical consultants and administration support in order to accommodate the increased demand. Additional mobile units and medical equipment will also be required. It will be fully rolled out across all women in the extended age range by 2021.

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.