Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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367. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate a national scoliosis screening programme similar to that which existed prior to 2011 in order to allow for the effective detection, monitoring and treatment of scoliosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are well established international criteria to be met before a national population- based screening programme can be recommended. 

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer has informed me that the current position in the NHS arising from an evidence review conducted by the UK National Screening Committee and that is that a population screening programme for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is not recommended.

Arising from a recommendation from the Scally Report (2018) a National Screening Committee (NSC) will be established and become operational in Ireland during the course of 2019. The NSC will be responsible for advising the Minister and Department of Health on all new proposals for screening. However, currently there is insufficient evidence to support the introduction of population screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in Ireland at this time.