David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1074. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding by 10% to BreastCheck and CervicalCheck; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21337/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health Service Executive, National Screening Service (NSS) has responsibility for four population-based screening programmes in Ireland CervicalCheck, Diabetic RetinaScreen, BowelScreen and BreastCheck.

I am pleased that in the Programme for Government we have committed to extend the free screening age range in BreastCheck to those aged 69. This is an important development for the BreastCheck screening programme. Based on the 2020 allocated funding for the BreastCheck Programme the HSE has advised the impact of a 10% increase in funding for BreastCheck would be €2.8m.

In relation to CervicalCheck, the Government has committed to fully implementing the recommendations of Dr Scally’s Report of the Scoping Inquiry. Full implementation represents a very broad programme of work incorporating improvements across the National Screening Service and wider health services, and funding to support this work was allocated in Budget 2020, together with funding to support the switch to HPV primary testing. The move to HPV cervical screening means that Ireland joins a small group of nations that employs the best-in-class testing to screen their populations for cervical cancer. This improved testing methodology, along with the continued roll-out of HPV vaccinations, means that Ireland can look forward to a significant reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer cases over the next 10-20 years.

The HSE has advised that based on the 2020 allocated funding for CervicalCheck programme the impact of a 10% increase in funding for the programmes would be €4.4m.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1075. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional obstetrician; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21338/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1076. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional gynaecologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21339/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1077. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of repatriating CervicalCheck screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21340/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health Service Executive (HSE) made a strategic decision in 2018 to develop a National Cervical Screening Laboratory, in conjunction with the Coombe Woman and Infants University Hospital. The HSE established a joint project with the Coombe, and a project team is in place to assist in the delivery of this project. The capital cost of building a National Cervical Screening Laboratory is estimated to be in the region of €15 – 20 million. Allowances have been made in the HSE capital plan for this expenditure.

An exercise for developing the operational costs for the laboratory, which would have the capacity to undertake all cervical screening services is under way. The exercise will look at staffing, logistical and equipment costs.

A long-term strategy will be developed which will examine issues of laboratory resilience to ensure a sustainable and safe space for the future of the cervical screening programme in Ireland.

BreastCheck, BowelScreen and Diabetic RetinaScreen access services in Ireland and therefore there are no repatriating costs.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1078. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of hiring an additional dentist into the public system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21341/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.