Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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795. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28159/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme is a priority for me as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to report recent progress in this area.

A ninth condition, ADA-SCID (Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) was added to the NBS programme on 23^rdMay 2022. This important development means that all newborn babies in Ireland will now be screened, as part of the ‘heel prick’ test, for this rare condition which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.

I wish to acknowledge the significant work undertaken by a range of stakeholders and staff in the HSE to get to this important milestone for families in Ireland. In particular, the commitment of HSE NBS group and the National NBS laboratory at CHI in Temple Street is acknowledged, and reflects the thorough and complex planning process which is required for implementation.

The independent, expert National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC), which makes recommendations to me and my Department, is currently progressing further expansion of the NBS programme.

The NSAC has commissioned HIQA to undertake a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) looking at the addition of other SCID types to the NBS programme. I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee on this condition after the HTA process is finalised later this year.

The expansion of the NBS programme is being informed by the international experience and approaches of other countries in expanding such programmes.

In addition to the scientific and technological information required to make evidence-based decisions about expansion, there are a number of  ethical, legal and societal issues which arise when planning an enduring population-based programme of this nature. Decisions in relation to population-based screening can be complex and challenging and it is vital that Ireland continues to employ a robust, methodologically sound and detailed analysis of the evidence in each and every case.

The NSAC continues to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including clinicians and patient advocates, as it considers the further expansion of the NBS programme.

The Committee is also progressing its consideration of proposals that it received in response to its first Annual Call held in late 2021, which includes consideration of any proposals in relation to the expansion of the NBS programme.

In conclusion I wish to assure you that I am committed to the expansion of the NBS programme, and I look forward to receiving further recommendations and advice from the NSAC in the time ahead.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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796. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to implement the recommendations of the Scally report by placing the National Screening Advisory Committee on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28160/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to update that significant progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of Dr Scally's Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening programme.

As of the end of March 2022,  just three (3) of the 170 actions arising remained to be completed. All three (3) remaining actions are ‘in progress’, and further updates in completing these actions will be reported in the quarterly progress reports published by my Department.

I recently asked Dr Scally to conduct a final progress review of implementation of his recommendations, and this is now underway. Progressing this final review is in line with our Programme for Government commitments, including the advancement of the women’s health agenda.

Through the recommendations from his reports, Dr Scally has already made a considerable contribution to developments in our health system and ensuring Ireland has a robust screening service, which will enable our progress towards the ultimate goal of elimination of cervical cancer. 

The establishment of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) in 2019 represented the implementation of relevant recommendations in Dr Scally's report.

Dr Scally had advised that Ireland should establish a National Screening Committee and provided a draft service specification for consideration within the report which was drawn from international best practice.  The Committee was established in 2019, and set up with an eminently qualified chair, as well as a broad and diverse membership, including members representing the public voice. The approach taken here is closely aligned to the approach in the UK, where the national screening committee is also on a non-statutory footing.

The NSAC is now well established and recently published its second annual report which detailed significant progress in 2021. I was particularly pleased to see the level of public response to the Committee's first Annual Call for proposals, with a total of 53 submissions now undergoing consideration by this expert, independent committee.

The NSAC will publish its full work programme when it has finalised its assessment of all proposals received in the Annual Call 2021. However, I am pleased to note that the Committee has already made some decisions, including in relation to the existing national cancer screening programmes. Following submissions from several sources, including from BreastCheck, the Committee has asked HIQA to look at the evidence for extending the age range for breast screening. It has also asked HIQA to look at the age range for bowel screening. 

The Committee has made one recommendation to me so far in 2022, for the adoption of a clinical guideline in the BowelScreen programme, which was submitted to the Annual Call by the programme. I recently approved this recommendation which will be implemented by the BowelScreen programme.

The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme is a priority for me, and the NSAC has been progressing work on this expansion.

I am pleased to report recent progress in this area with a ninth condition, ADA-SCID (Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) being added to the NBS programme on 23rd  May 2022. This important development means that all newborn babies in Ireland will now be screened, as part of the ‘heel prick’ test, for this rare condition which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.

The NSAC has also commissioned HIQA to undertake a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) looking at the addition of other SCID types to the NBS programme. I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee on this condition after the HTA process is finalised later this year.