Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
185. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to review the age parameters for BreastCheck to increase the provision of free examinations to people under the age of 50 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7604/23]
View answerI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Any decisions about changes to our screening programmes, such as extending the age range eligibility of a cancer screening programme, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC).
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The Committee recently published its Work Programme which includes examination of the potential expansion of cancer screening programmes in Ireland. The NSAC's first Annual Call (2021) for proposals received a significant response with over 50 submissions received. Submissions on expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening were received from a number of sources, including the BreastCheck programme. The NSAC have asked HIQA to look at the evidence for the expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening to women between 45 and 74 years of age, and this work has begun.
Under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a Proposal for an updated European Council Recommendation on cancer screening which includes Breast Cancer was formally approved on 9 December 2022 and published thereafter. The NSAC will consider this recommendation and advise me and the Department of Health on the evidence as it applies to Ireland.
Ireland will also be actively engaged with the significant ongoing collaborative work at European level to take forward the updated Recommendation on cancer screening.
