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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 5

Written Answers - Cancer Screening Programme.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

194 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated total cost of the full roll-out of the BreastCheck programme; the amount of funding allocated to it to date; the estimated cost of extending it to Munster and Connacht; when it will be extended to these regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8439/03]

BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, commenced in March 2000, with phase one of the programme covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and North-Eastern Health Board areas. Screening is being offered free of charge to all women in those areas in the target age group of 50 to 64 years of age. The target population consists of approximately 140,000 women and represents about 50% of the national target population. By the end of December 2002, 110,636 women had been called for screening and 83,000 women had been screened. This represents an uptake of 75%. The non-capital funding of BreastCheck is €8.7 million.

I have publicly expressed my commitment to the nationwide extension of BreastCheck. As evidence of my commitment, I recently announced the extension of the programme to a further three counties. Approximately, 19,000 women in the 50 to 64 age bracket in counties Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow will be invited for screening.

The board of BreastCheck has submitted a business plan to my Department for the national expansion of the programme, requiring a further investment of €27 million, including €13 million in capital costs. The cost of extension to the west and south is €11.043 million and €11.933 million, respectively. Two static units are proposed in host hospitals, one in Cork and the other in Galway, at which breast surgery would be performed on women in the south, west, mid-west and north-west. I met representatives of BreastCheck on 12 March to discuss their proposals, including the links with the symptomatic services, which have received considerable funding in recent years. It was agreed that officials of my Department and BreastCheck would commence discussions with representatives of the static units concerning the details of a national roll-out.

Any woman, irrespective of her age or residence, who has immediate concerns or symptoms should contact her GP who, where appropriate, will refer her to the symptomatic services in her area.

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