Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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905. To ask the Minister for Health the length of time persons have to wait from general practitioner referral for an appointment for initial examination and breast screening check at the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13558/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Comprehensive symptomatic breast services are available for women in the eight designated cancer centres. These centres, together with a satellite centre in Letterkenny, provide a range of services, including for women who have been referred by their general practitioner. National key performance indicators have been set in relation to waiting times for women referred to these clinics. The target is to see 95% of urgent referrals within two weeks, and 95% of non-urgent referrals within 12 weeks.

In 2016, the symptomatic breast disease clinic at the Mater Hospital saw 99% of urgent referrals within two weeks, and 64% of non-urgent referrals within 12 weeks.

Separately BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, provides free mammograms to all women aged 50-64 every two years and is available nationwide. It is currently being extended to women aged 65-69.