Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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400. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the national breast cancer screening programme, BreastCheck, to make it available to women from 45 years of age; from 40 years of age; from 35 years of age; the cost of same; when the service will be extended to cover all adult women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39191/15]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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401. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reduce the eligibility age for the national cervical cancer screening programme, CervicalCheck, to make it available to women, from 20 years of age; from 18 years of age; from 16 years of age; the cost of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39192/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together.

The HSE's National Screening Service provides cancer screening of the breast, cervical and bowel in line with best international evidence.

BreastCheck offers free mammograms every two years to all women aged 50-64 years. Late last year I announced the extension of breast screening to women aged 65-69 years, in keeping with EU Guidelines. I am pleased to confirm that the first invitations have issued and that the screening of 500 women in this cohort will take place this year. International evidence does not support the introduction of population based breast screening below the age of 50.

CervicalCheck offers free smear tests to women aged 25-60. This age range is based on the assessment of the risks of cervical cancer and the benefits of population screening arising from the examination of available evidence by Irish and international experts. Cancer of the cervix is extremely rare in women aged under 25.

Meanwhile, the BowelScreen programme offers free screening nationwide to men and women aged 60-69.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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402. To ask the Minister for Health given the success of awareness programmes such as Blue September and Movember, if his Department is costing and developing a men's cancer screening programme; the age groups and cancer types being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39193/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the contribution made by campaigns such as Blue September and Movember in helping to raise awareness of cancer in males.

The National Screening Service provides breast, cervical and bowel in line with international evidence. BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, commenced offering free bowel screening nationwide to both men and women aged 60-69 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.

There is insufficient evidence to recommend the introduction of screening programmes for other male cancers, such as prostate cancer. My Department and the HSE will continue to monitor emerging international evidence in this regard.