Independent MEP Marian Harkin has called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney to make a clear statement about when the BreastCheck programme is to be rolled-out in the North West.

In a statement she strongly condemned the further delay in expanding BreastCheck to the North West and the fact that it will not be fully implemented before the end of the decade.

"An article in the Sligo Champion in December 2005 headed 'BreastCheck to Start in North West by 2007' indicates just how the public has been misled on this issue", she said. The Champion story quoted a statement by Director of BreastCheck, Tony O'Brien following a briefing of the Border Regional Authority in which he said "Members of the Regional Authority were told that screening would commence in BreastCheck's Western Screening region, which includes counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo in 2007. members were also assured that all the necessary Department of Health approvals and the required level of financial resources had been provided, following the Tanaiste 's approval for the extension of the Programme earlier this year. Any suggestion that the Regional Authority was told that screening would not commence in the North West until 2009 is entirely without foundation.

"An exact date for the commencement of screening will be announced during 2006 following receipt of planning approval for the new assessment facilities required and as the staff recruitment process proceeds. BreastCheck is working to secure the earliest possible commencement of screening in 2007. Staff recruitment commenced on 19th November 2005. Planning applications are due to be submitted this month ".

Commenting on the statement Marian Harkin said: [
"What is so depressing about that statement is that none of what was promised has happened and, indeed, BreastCheck is planning to mount an exercise next month to establish the number of radiographers available to work in the North West over two years after they advertised for radiographers in local papers in the North West.  At that time at least one advertisement stated ‘BreastCheck is coming to Donegal’ and two years later they are saying the same thing.

"In December 2005 BreastCheck, according to it's Director, had Departmnet of Health approval for the financing and staffing of the North West screening service and now two years later the pledge to commence screening at the earliest possible date in 2007 has not been delivered on.

“I have put down a question to the Minister for Health Mary Harney in which I have demanded that there must be no removal of the present breast screening service available in Sligo General Hospital until it is replaced by the full roll-out of BreastCheck in the North West”.