Minister for Health Mary Harney said today she has "great confidence" in the review being undertaken into breast radiology services at Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.
She told the Dáil she believed the review, led by consultant radiologist Dr Ann O'Doherty, would "be of considerable assurance to women".
Minister for Health Mary Harney
Ms Harney said a total of 3,026 mammograms had now been reviewed.
"This led to 234 women having their diagnostic status and clinical notes reviewed following which 54 women were recalled to clinics at St Vincent's University Hospital," she said.
"Of the 54 women recalled to date, seven have been identified as having a diagnosis of cancer. All seven women have been offered appropriate treatment and counselling. The HSE has apologised to these women for the delay in diagnosis."
Ms Harney said that of the 19 women still to be reviewed at the beginning of this week, 13 are clear of cancer. Six have been referred to the special clinic at St. Vincent's. Four attended last Monday and the other two are scheduled to attend tomorrow, Thursday, she said.
"The review phase will be completed this week and a full report will be published by the end of November. The consultant radiologist whose practice gave rise to this review remains on administrative leave."
Ms Harney told the Dail later that the inquiry into the radiology department at Portlaoise "does not just concern the work of that person" and she believed it was fair to point that out.
Questioned on concerns about the age of equipment in use for mammography x-rays at the hospital, The Minister also said that when the Portlaoise hospital was asked for its "capital priorities", its priority was a new CT scanner.
"I have requested an urgent report from [HSE chief executive] Prof. [Brendan] Drumm on the circumstances which led to the decision to suspend the service, place the consultant radiologist on leave and initiate the review," Ms Harney said.
"This will help us to identify any lessons which can be learned from this particular circumstances.
"However, we can say this today. It is most important that we move forward now as rapidly as possible to implement the National Cancer Control Programme.
"It is absolutely clear that the highest quality, safe specialist cancer services will only be delivered where there are large numbers of consultants working together on large numbers of cases, with continuing competence assurance and audit."