Cancer Screening Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Ceisteanna (824, 828, 866, 900, 932, 1002, 1062)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

824. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support the extension of BreastCheck to women aged 65 to 69 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33168/14]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

828. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend BreastCheck to 65 to 70 year olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33181/14]

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

866. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he supports an extension of BreastCheck, the national free screening programme, to women aged 65 to 69 years of age in line with the programme for Government, and if so, when this extension will be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33303/14]

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

900. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend BreastCheck to women aged 65 to 69 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33416/14]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

932. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of extending the BreastCheck screening programme to women aged between 65 and 70 years of age; when he intends to extend the screening programme to this age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33542/14]

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

1002. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend BreastCheck cover to women aged from 65 to 69 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33881/14]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

1062. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will extend BreastCheck to women aged 65 to 69 years as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34170/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 824, 828, 866, 900, 932, 1002 and 1062 together.

The BreastCheck Programme provides free mammograms to all women aged 50-64. A priority of the BreastCheck Programme at present is to maximise national uptake in the 50-64 year age cohort.

It is my intention to extend the upper age range to include the 65-69 age cohort as soon as possible in line with available resources.