Yes, there are plans for a bowel cancer screening programme for Northern Ireland. This is likely to begin in 2009.
We don't have more details about how the screening programme will work, but it is likely that it will involve the use of FOB test kits. This test looks for hidden blood in bowel motions. People who test positive for blood may be referred to hospital for further assessment and offered a colonoscopy.
You can find more information about the current English and Scottish bowel cancer screening programmes at www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel and www.bowelscreening.scot.nhs.uk
If you have any concerns about your bowel health in the meantime go to see your GP in the usual way.