Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 September 2011
240 Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health if persons over 69 years are being excluded from the rectal screening programme; if so, the medical grounds for this exclusion; and if this is related to budget constraints. [25400/11]
View answerPreparatory work on a national colorectal cancer screening programme commenced in early 2010 and the programme is expected to be introduced in mid-2012. In the initial phase, screening will be offered to men and women aged between 60 and 69 years; there are estimated to be just over 400,000 people in this age group. It is intended to extend the programme to include all those aged 55 to 74, as resources and capacity allow.
Based on expected uptake rates and incidence, it is estimated that around 6,000 colonoscopies will take place each year within the screening programme in this initial phase, and preparations are focused on building up resources and capacity to meet this additional need. The phased implementation of the programme will allow for capacity to be built up gradually before it is extended to the full 55-74 year age group.
Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women in Ireland. On average 2,270 new cases are diagnosed each year and around 900 people die of the disease. In Ireland, incidence is highest in those aged 55-74. Within that cohort, half of all cancers are diagnosed in men and women in the 60 to 69 age group and according to advice from the National Cancer Screening Service, it is this group that will benefit most, from a population perspective, in the initial phase.
