Jack Wall
Ceist:57 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps being taken to ensure the extension of the BreastCheck programme to the entire country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5788/02]
Written Answers. - Cancer Screening Programme.
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. Screening is being offered free of charge to all women in those areas in the target age group 50 to 64 years of age. It is expected that phase one of the programme will be completed by December 2002. To date, over 50,000 women have been called for screening and over 34,000 women have been screened. This represents a 70% uptake.
It is essential that the programme is driven by international quality assurance and best practice and the experience gained in phase one will facilitate the process of planning and organising the roll-out of the programme nation-wide. BreastCheck is currently in discussion with health boards concerning expansion of the programme nation-wide. My Department will continue to support BreastCheck in moving to nation-wide coverage as soon as possible.