Cervical cancer tests compensation cost will exceed €32m

State officials have admitted the cervical cancer tests compensation cost will exceed the €32million price of delivering the service but have refused to reveal an exact figure amid claims that victims will use it to increase their demands.

The State Claims Agency (SCA) and the HSE outlined the situation during a detailed meeting in which they separately confirmed some women are being forced to wait at least 20 weeks to receive follow-up smear tests.