Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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630. To ask the Minister for Health the steps taken to date in relation to furthering the expansion of the heel prick test for newborn screening in Ireland, with regard to specific testing for Severe Immunodeficiency (SCID); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22584/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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631. To ask the Minister for Health the further investment, if any, that will be required in terms of staffing and equipment requirements for the purposes of including Severe immunodeficiency (SCID) in the heel prick test for newborn screening in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22585/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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632. To ask the Minister for Health the anticipated timeline envisaged for including Severe Immunodeficiency (SCID) in the heel prick test for newborn screening in Ireland; when parents in Ireland can expect SCID to be added to such test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22586/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 630, 631 and 632 together.

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

In January 2023, I approved a recommendation from the Committee for the addition of T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC)-based screening for all types of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) to the NBS programme. The Committee made its recommendation to me based on their consideration of a comprehensive Health Technology Assessment report from HIQA.

The HSE is now undertaking an extensive body of work to prepare for implementation. Therefore, as your additional queries raised relate to implementation, these are a service matter and have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to you.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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633. To ask the Minister for Health the up-to-date position with regard to the health technology assessment undertaken by HIQA for the purposes of including spinal muscular atrophy in the heel prick test for newborn screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22587/23]

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 our screening programmes, such as screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, 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 expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) programme is a priority for me. As you know, a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the addition of an eleventh condition to the NBS programme, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, is now underway by HIQA. I am advised that the NSAC expect HIQA to complete this process over the coming months and that the HTA will be presented to and considered by the Committee at a meeting before the end of this year.

I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee following their consideration of the HTA once it is available.