BreastCheck has revealed it is operating a reduced service, including delaying routine breast screening, over concerns about the "unprecedented levels" of coronavirus in the community.
In an update from the National Screening Service (NSS) seen by RTÉ, it states that "whilst screening remains a safe procedure, we believe the risk to healthy women posed by current levels of Covid-19 in the community outweighs the benefits of routine breast screening.
"Therefore, BreastCheck is operating a reduced service at this time." The decision will be kept under review at local level.
"We will resume sending out appointments for routine screening when it is deemed safe to ask women to re-attend.
"We know this is disappointing for women and undertake to continue routine screening in their area as soon as it is safe to do so," the communication said.
Follow-up clinics for women scheduled for further assessment will proceed and "they should continue to attend these appointments".
The NSS also said that screening is "only the first step in the BreastCheck pathway. Treating women with screen detected abnormalities involves many hospital departments, beds and theatre resources that are currently under pressure.
"Hospitals are suspending or reducing routine activity to accommodate the Covid-19 surge."
BreastCheck advises anyone with concerns or symptoms concerning their breasts to contact their GP.
The NSS also noted that CervicalCheck delays are also possible due to the pandemic.
"GP practices and community clinics may not be able to offer cervical screening appointments, or may be operating at reduced capacity, in the short-term," it said.
"We are therefore advising participants who are booked for screening that their sample-taker may reschedule their January appointment, and that their new test date may be some weeks away."
It warned that anyone seeking to book a cervical smear through CervicalCheck "may not be able to do so at this time. We are asking them to keep in contact with their GP or clinic and rebook as soon as they can".
The NSS added: "Cervical screening is for well people who do not have symptoms. Anyone who is worried about symptoms at any time is advised not to wait for screening but to contact their GP immediately, for appropriate follow-up care."
Both BowelScreen and Diabetic RetinaScreen are continuing but "at a reduced capacity".
