Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I am committed to supporting Ireland's population screening programmes which are valuable part of our health service. The programme for Government commits to evaluate the current lung cancer screening pilot in line with the WHO criteria and to develop recommendations for a way forward. The pilot, which was led by researchers in Beaumont and the RCSI with support from the EU, the Irish Cancer Society and my Department, is under way. It has issued a call for proposals to advance research in this area focusing on outstanding uncertainties.

I have had several meetings with Gillian Ryan who is a leading lung cancer advocate and a leading advocate for a mobile screening service. I have met her in Cork and have hosted her and her daughter here in Leinster House. I met her again last week to unveil Ireland's first White Ribbon for Lung Cancer campaign. I know the Deputy was involved in that and did the breathlessness piece.

Lung cancer is a very serious condition, particularly for those who are not identified as being at high risk. For example, a number of non-smokers are getting lung cancer and they would not necessarily see themselves as being high risk. They deserve to have the opportunity to have themselves tested. I particularly favour the mobile unit but I recognise that we have a screening programme and screening advisory programme that have worked well for us. This is under broader consideration. We need to do a complex set of calculations to get a careful balance to deliver population benefit. I am told lung cancer is particularly challenging due to the very significant budget impact. There are difficulties with risk stratification and high levels of incidental findings that are not necessarily lung cancer that cause their own problems as well. As I am learning, there is a particular complexity to lung cancer screening that was not apparent to me on the first go. Nevertheless, we are continuing to try to assess what may be done through established evidence-driven protocols, as always. I very clearly hear the Deputy and agree with her that there is a particular need to look at this more closely.

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