asked the Minister for Health if he has received an application for funding of a pilot scheme for cervical smear testing from the Eastern Health Board; if it is intended to provide funding for this scheme; the other measures, if any, his Department intend to take to promote cervical smear testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

55.

asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the evidence in the recent Eastern Health Board report that few women in the high risk groups come forward for cervical smear testing and if he will indicate whether he intends to introduce a comprehensive screening or smear testing programme to ensure all women are offered a test.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 55 together. Cervical smear tests are available on request to all women through general practitioners, clinics organised by health boards, maternity hospitals and family planning clinics. It is available without charge to women who are exempt from charges under the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987.

The 1986 Eastern Health Board Report on Cancer of the Uterine Cervix suggests that the epidemiological factors related to this disease in Ireland are similar to those reported in international studies. These studies have shown a greater incidence of cervical cancer among women from lower income groups, older women and women of high parity.

An application for funding of a pilot scheme for cervical smear testing has been received from the Eastern Health Board. It is being considered in my Department in the context of the other competing proposals for funding.

A study on cervical cytology screening is at present being undertaken by the Faculty of Community Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. The agreed objectives of the project are:

1. To review the present organisation of services by addressing such questions as where services are currently being provided, and by whom; what, if any, is the target population; what are the characteristics of the population utilising the service; and what resources are being devoted to the service.

2. To evaluate the service against the criteria suggested for a successful screening service.

The project is funded by my Department and is expected to be completed in June of next year.

In the meantime I have set up a group chaired by the chief medical officer of the Department to let me have by mid-January detailed proposals to improve the existing service.

Arising from the Minister's acknowledgement that there is a higher risk among women in lower income categories, will he waive the new £5 charge for cervical smears introduced in St. Luke's Hospital?

Persons who are exempt from charges under the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987, should not have to pay a charge and this would include the people in the lower income groups referred to by Deputy Howlin.