Women under 25 in Ireland are not included in current screening demographics for cervical cancer. This means that all women under 25, regardless of whether or not they are experiencing symptoms associated with cervical cancer, must take personal responsibility for seeking a cervical cancer screening test. Young women are forced to pay for this service themselves. A swab must be performed by a GP and sent to a private lab to be tested, the cost associated with this is between €100-180 and is not covered by public healthcare. The Irish Government and public healthcare system currently take no responsibility for the standard of test offered to women under 25 and instead are relying on a private testing companies which are profiting on the shortcomings of the HSE’s ‘CervicalCheck’ service, at the financial expense of women under 25. 

The purpose of this petition is to highlight this urgent women's health issue to The Department of Health and Minister Stephen Donnelly. Through this action, the signees of this petition hope to encourage legislative change, to protect women under 25 from being at an increased risk of undetected cervical cancer, due to inadequate access to screening services.

This issue is pertinent to ongoing action as a result of the 2018 Cervical Cancer Screening Scandal. There have been an astonishing number of government failures on promised action as a result of the HSE’s admission on 26th April 2018, that over 206 women had developed cervical cancer after having a misdiagnosed ‘CervicalCheck’ smear test.

This petition is intended to raise awareness about the necessity for review of Ireland's current cervical screening program and continue national dialogue on the importance of women's health and wellbeing.