Following discussions between Clare’s female councillors, a joint motion is being proposed to Clare County Council calling for a further update on BreastCheck services and a permanent breast screening facility in the county.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney has confirmed that BreastCheck services are not being withdrawn from County Clare, following direct clarification from the National Screening Service, but says the county must continue to campaign for a permanent breast screening facility.
Clare Aontú representative June Dillon raised the issue at the weekend after being contacted by a number of women in Clare who received letters from BreastCheck to arrange a mammogram, at locations in Galway, Limerick or Nenagh as the mobile unit in Clare will no longer be an option from October 30th.
Ms. Dillon contacted BreastCheck to clarify the concerns, and they confirmed that the Ennis mobile unit is now moving to Ballina, Co Mayo to service the population there, after being in Ennis for a number of years.
She has criticised the removal of the BreastCheck mobile unit from Ennis, with no definite return date and is also calling for a permanent solution for a breast screening to be permanently established in Clare.
Cllr McInerney sought clarification after concerns were raised locally about the planned departure of the BreastCheck mobile unit from Ennis on 30 October, prompting a public petition and widespread discussion about access to breast screening in Clare. In a response to Cllr McInerney, the National Screening Service confirmed that the Ennis unit is a mobile facility that operates on a rotating basis, moving between locations around the country and returning to Ennis when the next round of screening is due.
The unit has been based at Clare County Council Offices in Ennis since February 2024 and is now completing its current round of screening. The previous period of screening in Ennis ran from March 2021 to January 2023. The National Screening Service also confirmed that women in Clare may be offered appointments at other locations, including Limerick and Gort, depending on where the mobile units are operating. Women can request an alternative appointment or location if their invitation does not suit them.
Cllr McInerney said the clarification was important but stressed that the issue of access to breast screening for women in Clare remained a priority. Cllr McInerney said: “It was important to establish the facts following the concerns raised by women across Clare. I contacted the National Screening Service directly, and I welcome the confirmation that BreastCheck services are not being withdrawn from the county.
However, the fact that a service continues to operate does not mean that we should not examine whether it is meeting the needs of women in Clare. A mobile unit moving between locations is the national model of service delivery, but we must consider the practical implications for women who may have to travel outside their county to attend an appointment. Access to breast screening should be as straightforward as possible. We need to ensure that women across Clare can access appointments in a timely manner, without unnecessary travel or additional barriers.”
Cllr McInerney confirmed that, following discussions between the female councillors on Clare County Council, they are proposing to bring forward a joint motion at the next monthly council meeting, seeking a further update on BreastCheck provision in Clare and calling for a permanent breast screening facility in the county.
She added: “I welcome discussions with my female council colleagues, and I believe it is important that we work together on an issue that affects women throughout Clare, regardless of political affiliation. “Our proposed joint motion will seek further clarity on the provision of BreastCheck services and will call for a permanent breast screening facility in Clare.
While we now have confirmation that the departure of the mobile unit is part of the normal operating model, we must also consider whether that model provides the best possible access for women in our county. This is not meant to create unnecessary alarm or suggesting that the service has been withdrawn when that is not the case.
It is about listening to the concerns of women, ensuring transparency around how the service operates and working collectively to secure improved access to screening. Breast cancer screening is an essential part of preventative healthcare. Women in Clare deserve a service that is accessible, reliable and responsive to their needs.”
June Dillon said: “Politicians of many hues are now scrambling around to reassure people that it’s normal procedure for the mobile Breast Check Unit to be removed. But they can play word games all they want about ‘rotating’ and being ‘mobile’ but the FACT remains; from 30th October there will be no breast screening service in Clare. Women will have to travel to Galway, Limerick or Nenagh for screening.”
For women in North and West Clare, these are lengthy journeys for a vital preventive service. For those without transport or with disabilities, the barriers are even greater. Breast screening must be accessible before symptoms develop. We cannot allow distance to become a barrier to early detection.
With 51,000 women nationally waiting beyond the target two-year screening period, and Clare recording the fifth-lowest breast cancer survival rate nationally, the need for accessible services cannot be ignored.
Clare needs a reliable local screening service and a mobile unit capable of reaching communities across the county. As it is, we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul as we’re taking the mobile unit from one area and putting it into another. Moving mobile units from one county to another is not a solution.
Our petition shows that Clare women want better. The eventual return of the unit to Ennis does not address the wider problem.
“Women in Clare should not have to settle for whatever service they are given. The women I represent have identified a gap in the service and want it fixed. That is why there are over 5000 signatures demanding immediate action. This is too serious. Health outcomes and lives are at stake. We, in Aontú, will continue to fight for this vital screening service to stay in Clare.”