Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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222. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding breast cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5265/15]

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. The National Screening Service will need to recruit and train additional radiographers, medical consultants and administration support to accommodate the increased demand for the BreastCheck programme. Funding for this and for additional mobile units and medical equipment will be made available across the implementation period. The age extension will be fully rolled out 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.