Recruitment Freeze Halts Donegal Breast Screening

A new breast screening service for Donegal has been put on hold because of a freeze in public sector recruitment.

The National Cancer Screening Service said the appointment of radiographers has been temporarily suspended following the Irish budget.

The body has asked for the service to be made a special case despite the national cost-cutting measures being introduced.

There's already anger across Donegal that the roll out of the Breast Check' initiative in the county is being delayed again.

At a recent meeting in Dublin, a Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC) deputation was told that the Government decision meant there is "no option" but to defer the rollout of Breast Check in the county, despite pledges that it would be in place by the end of this year.

Tony O'Brien is Chief Executive Officer of the national screening service, which has responsibility for rolling out Breast Check.

Speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show on Highland Radio, he said "there is a possibility that a derogation from the moratorium could be granted".

He said that has already been applied for.

However, on the same programme, Donegal North East TD Niall Blaney hit out at Mr O'Brien, saying that he had failed to honour a promise to keep the Oireachtas Committee infiormed of developments.

He says as a result, he and others have been unaware of the problem, and "that's unacceptable".

However, Tony O'Brien said he is working with the Department of Health, and it would not be appropriate for him to seek political assistance or intervention.

Betty Holmes of DACC said that rather than arguing over who "should have said what", the important thing now is to focus on resolving this issue, and having the derogation achieved as quickly as possible.

She says at present, it's hard to escape the conclusion that Donegal is again been discriminated against.

(BMcC/JM)