Vol. 569 No. 3
154 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children when, in regard to his announcement of 27 March 2003, the extension of the BreastCheck service to Munster will take place; the resources which have been allocated for the extension; when it is planned to extend the service to the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17547/03]
As the Deputy is aware, I announced the national extension of BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme on 27 March 2003. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the southern area will be located at South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, with three associated mobile units. Counties covered include Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary South Riding. The BreastCheck clinical unit in the western area will be at University College Hospital Galway, with two associated mobile units. The area of coverage includes counties Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Clare and Tipperary North Riding.
Under the extension, approximately 130,000 women in the target population 50 to 64 years of age will be eligible for screening. The programme expects to diagnose approximately 400 cancers per annum among this population.
Under the business plan submitted by BreastCheck to the Department, the national expansion of the programme to the west and the south is costed at €27 million, including €13million capital costs. It is anticipated that additional costs will be incurred by the host hospitals and these are being assessed at present.
Approval has issued for the establishment of two capital project teams to develop a brief for the capital infrastructure needed for the static units in the south and west. This approval will allow for the immediate commencement of the detailed planning for the national roll-out.
In respect of funding requirements, I do not anticipate additional revenue requirements for the programme this year. Revenue requirements for subsequent years will be considered in the context of the Estimates process. As regards capital costs, discussions are ongoing involving officials of my Department, BreastCheck and relevant health agencies. Discussions have also commenced concerning operational plans for the national roll-out, including linkages with the symptomatic services.
