Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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780. To ask the Minister for Health the research that has been done into a lung cancer screening programme in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42087/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Lung cancer screening is receiving increasing attention worldwide, both with medical professionals and the general public. Ireland has too small a population to undertake a sufficiently powered randomised lung cancer screening trial.  Multiple randomised trials including the US National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), the Multicentric Italian Lung Detection trial, and results from the Dutch-Belgian NELSON trial have provided evidence that low-dose CT screening can reduce lung cancer mortality.  However, all population cancer screening programmes are associated with both benefits and harms, and lung cancer screening is no different. In the UK and throughout Europe, there remains considerable debate in the research community about whether, when, and how screening should be implemented.

Most recently, England's National Health Service announced a planned rollout of low-dose CT screening at ten pilot sites. My Department through its attendance at the UK National Screening Committee and through the work of our own National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) intends to keep this topic under continuous review and to work collaboratively with our colleagues in the HSE and our counterparts in the UK and Europe to determine the appropriateness of examining the case for lung cancer screening in Ireland.

I should emphasise that population screening is no substitute for primary prevention which is the key policy initiative in Ireland when it comes to lung cancer. Cigarette smoking is the single biggest risk factor and is responsible for between 80-90 percent of all cases of lung cancer. The best way to prevent lung cancer is to avoid smoking or if someone already smokes to quit.

In addition to primary prevention the HSE through the National Cancer Control programme has operated rapid access ‘lung cancer’ clinics since 2012. These provide direct access to Consultant led assessment and diagnostic services for patients with suspected lung disease or cancer. This service was rolled out by The National Cancer Control programme in 2012.