Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be compensated for the cost of a cervical smear test to be carried out in a laboratory here. [27481/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The clinical advice from the HSE and the Department of Health is clear that there is no evidence that the clinical and technical aspects of the CervicalCheck programme have performed outside or below international standards or the quality guidelines set for the programme. All laboratories currently contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programme's standards and have ISO accreditation, certified by the relevant national authorities.

The HSE recommends that if a woman has received clear results previously, she should proceed with her next scheduled smear test as normal. If a woman still has concerns or is experiencing any symptoms, she should talk to her GP.

I have arranged that any woman who has had a CervicalCheck smear test, and who following consultation with her GP wishes to have a further test, may do so without charge. Unfortunately it is not possible to authorise payments for smear tests taken outside of the CervicalCheck programme.