Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 3

Written Answers. - National Breast Screening Programme.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

40 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the first phase of his Department's breast screening programme, due to be implemented in June 1997, has been postponed; and when the programme will commence. [15781/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Phase I of the national breast screening programme has not been postponed. It has always been acknowledged that there is a long lead-in time involved in establishing the administrative and organisational structures required for the phased implementation of the programme, in the design and development of appropriate IT systems and also in the compilation of a population register.

The Deputy will be aware that in March 1997 the then Minister announced the introduction of a major action plan to implement the proposals contained in the national cancer strategy. Included in the plan were proposals for the development of a breast cancer screening programme. Since then there have been a number of important developments in relation to breast cancer screening. Principal among these are: the establishment of a national steering group chaired by Dr. Sheelah Ryan, Programme Manager, North-Eastern Health Board, to guide the implementation of the national programme of screening for breast cancer; the passage of legislation, Health (Provision of Information) Act, 1997, to ensure the screening programme will comply with data protection requirements; the establishment of a National Quality Assurance Committee, chaired by Professor Ennis, Radiologist, Mater Hospital, as a subcommittee of the steering group — the committee is representative of experts from all the relevant clinical disciplines; and the decision to appoint a project director for the programme. This post has been advertised and interviews are to be held shortly.

A sum of £1 million has been set aside in 1997 to meet the start-up costs associated with the programme. The steering committee has now identified priority resource requirements for phase I to be funded from this allocation.

Since the launch of the cancer strategy, considerable progress has been made in relation to the organisational structures and operational arrangements required for the implementation of the programme. The national steering group had its first meeting on 17 April 1997. The group has met on a monthly basis since and a decision is expected shortly in relation to an appropriate model for the delivery of phase I of the breast screening programme. Work is also under way in relation to the compilation of a population register in conjunction with the relevant agencies. Once a decision on a model for delivery has been reached the development of the IT system can be completed and phase I of the programme can proceed without delay.