The Irish Cancer Society has warned it may be forced to review its offer to provide €1m of its own funding to the government for the establishment of a national bowel cancer screening programme.

The ICS says the move, which would be likely to lead to strong criticism of health minister Mary Harney, is a reaction to the lack of progress on the issue by the department of health.

The society announced last July that it would be making the money available over a two-year period to coincide with the expected inclusion of a state-funded bowel cancer screening programme in the forthcoming budget.

However, its head of advocacy, Kathleen O'Meara, told the Sunday Tribune that while it fully acknowledges Harney's commitment to providing the service, it needs a "solid commitment" from her to roll out the service as a priority.

"We feel a bit frustrated at the length of time it has taken to make a decision on this. The minister needs to press the button on this as soon as possible," she told the Sunday Tribune. "If by the end of 2009 there has been no announcement of an action plan and a commitment to roll out the service, we will review our offer."

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland, after lung cancer, but can be treated, particularly if caught early.

A report which Harney asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to compile has not yet been published. It is expected to find that the cost of providing the service cannot be met from within existing cancer- screening resources, prompting speculation that the government may seek to divert money from elsewhere in the health system.

Studies have found that a national bowel cancer screening programme would result in a 36% reduction in deaths from the disease. Around 900 people die from bowel cancer in Ireland every year. Kilkenny woman Susie Long died from the disease in 2007, having come to public attention when she appeared on RTE's Liveline radio programme to highlight her plight.

O'Meara noted that Harney has referred to the introduction of a bowel cancer screening programme as a "no brainer".

"We do appreciate that the minister is trying her best to do this, but the sooner we start rolling this out the sooner we can start seeing the savings," she said.

Harney has previously indicated that she would "not be turning down" the offer from the society, particularly at a time when health budgets have been slashed.