Cork and Galway must wait until 2007 for breast screening

BREAST screening facilities for Cork and Galway will not be ready until 2007 - seven years after the proposed nationwide programme was started in the east of the country, it emerged yesterday.

At the launch of its annual report, BreastCheck revealed more than 50,000 women were screened and 379 cancers detected in 2003. There was a 40% increase to more than 70,000 in those invited for screening, with 75% take-up.

This suggests women are overcoming their fear about coming forward, particularly those invited a second time, when there was a 90% take-up. The programme was boosted in September by the announcement that the Government is to allocate €20 million to BreastCheck.