Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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204. To ask the Minister for Health if sufficient funding will be maintained by his Department to ensure that the bowel screen service remains in place. [23676/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, is run by the HSE's National Screening Service. The BowelScreen programme is adequately funded and strenuous efforts are being made to improve the uptake rate of this free service, particularly among men who have lower rates of participation but significantly higher rates of cancer detection compared to women.

The BowelScreen programme has led to the early diagnosis of cancers and better outcomes for patients. The introduction of BowelScreen, is in line with best international practice in regard to the early detection and effective treatment of colorectal cancer.

The BowelScreen Round One Programme Report (2012-2015) shows that 521 cancers were detected through bowel screening, 3 out of 4 of which were detected at an early stage of cancer development.