Cervical vaccine scheme 'will be rolled out next year'

Former Health Minister Mary O'Rourke says she is confident that the Government will begin rolling out the national cervical vaccine programme for women next year.

The newly re-elected Fianna Fáil TD was speaking at the opening of a state-of-the-art women's health centre at the privately-run Beacon Hospital in Dublin.

The clinic will offer a range of non-invasive gynaecological services and promises that the results of smear tests done there will be ready in weeks rather than months.