Deirdre Clune
Question:53 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of health board areas where cervical screening is available; and when it will be available in all health board areas. [30916/01]
Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.
I am pleased to report that phase one of the national cervical screening programme was launched in Limerick on 16 October 2000. Under the programme, cervical screening is being offered to approximately 67,000 women, free of charge, at five yearly intervals in the MidWestern Health Board area. An expert advisory group on cervical screening is currently overseeing the implementation of phase one.
The question of the extension of the programme to the rest of the country is currently under consideration. This will be a major undertaking with logistical and significant resource implications, which requires careful planning and organisation. The importance of achieving a national cervical screening programme, which is underpinned by quality assurance and best practice, is a key objective. The experience gained from phase one will facilitate the process of planning and organising the roll out of this programme. Currently, the chief executive officers of the health boards are involved in an examination of the feasibility and implications of extending the programme to the rest of the country.
Under the national health strategy commitment has been given to the full extension of the cervical screening programme. In this context I will continue to support the cervical screening programme in moving to national coverage as soon as is practically possible, having regard, in particular to the experience gained in putting phase 1 of the programme in place.