Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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281. To ask the Minister for Health if he will undertake a review of the current BreastCheck screening process (details supplied) in conjunction with the National Screening Advisory Committee to report breast density in BreastCheck to ensure women are informed appropriately and to give consideration to extending the breast check programme to younger women, who are more likely to have dense breasts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62629/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.

Any decisions about changes to the screening programmes, such as further widening the age eligibility, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.

The Committee's first Annual Call for proposals for new screening programmes or changes to our existing programmes received a significant response. Following submissions received from several sources, including from BreastCheck, the Committee has asked HIQA to analyse the evidence for expansion of the age range eligibility of the programme from age 45 to 49 and 70 to 74 years, in line with the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC) guidelines. HIQA have also been asked by the Committee to consider the issue of breast density as it might relate to the lower age expansion of the BreastCheck Programme, as it considers the evidence for age eligibility expansion in the programme.

Under the EU Beating Cancer Plan, updated Council recommendations on cancer screening are also expected to be published shortly. These final recommendations for breast and other cancer screening programmes will be considered by the National Screening Advisory Committee. The NSAC will consider the recommendation and advise the Minister and Department of Health on the evidence as it applies to Ireland.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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282. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the reopening of Keltoi. [62694/22]