Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.

Noel Ahern

Question:

111 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if the BreastCheck service is fully operational; the length of time a person will have to wait before examination; and when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will be called for examination. [2651/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Phase 1 of the national breast screening programme has commenced and is covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, North Eastern and Midland Health Board areas and is targeting 140,000 women in the age cohort 50 to 64, which represents approximately 50% of the national target population.

The Deputy will appreciate that the nature, scope and extent of the national breast screening programme has determined that it can only proceed on a gradual basis. Screening, therefore, takes place on an area by area basis and is done by district electoral divisions. BreastCheck aims to screen women within two years of becoming eligible. Women will be invited for screening and are asked to respond to the invitation within 21 days. BreastCheck then aims to give women an appointment at an appropriate location within eight to 12 weeks.

I have been informed by BreastCheck that the person named is on its register and according to its current screening plan, the aim is to screen that particular area-DED in the second half of 2001. However, if the woman has symptoms or is worried about breast cancer for a particular reason, she should consult her family doctor for advice.