David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1184. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the expansion of neonatal screening; the action he will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15482/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) was established in 2019 and has held two meetings to date. The Committee’s role is to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly.

Professor Niall O’Higgins was appointed as Chair of the NSAC in 2019 and was asked that the Committee prioritise an examination of the approaches for the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme ('heelprick test') and work in that regard has been progressed by the Committee.

It is most likely that over the course of the next 5 years we are likely to see an incremental expansion of the bloodspot programme that will screen for new conditions.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 17 July 2020 where the Committee will consider (1) the addition of ADA-SCID to the blood spot screening programme and (2) a change in the screening pathway of the Diabetic RetinaScreen programme.

Any future potential changes to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme will be incorporated as part of the Committee's work programme. Updates in relation to the work of the Committee will be posted on the NSAC website available at .