Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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348. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the continuation of cancer screening services nationally, including cervical screening; the action he will take to ensure the continuation and expansion of these services, notwithstanding the recent report in the media (details supplied) of 22 April 2023, which reported that the content of briefing papers prepared for the new CEO of the HSE indicated these services were under threat due to legal claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26925/23]

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.

A trend report from the National Cancer Registry published in 2022 stated that our cancer screening programmes are effective, detecting cancers earlier and saving lives. This is a trend I am committed to supporting and continuing.

The National Screening Service has recently published their first five-year Strategy (April 2023), which sets out the direction for screening services, including our cancer screening programmes. The Government has invested over €30m in our screening programmes over the last three years, for important strategic investments in capital and IT projects, as well as the recruitment of specialist staff. Investment has been provided for the introduction of three new BreastCheck mobile units in 2022 and development of a new IT information system for BreastCheck. Funding has also been provided for BowelScreen to start to roll out the Programme for Government commitment on age extension for this screening (the programme currently invites those aged 60 to 69, with an extension to people aged 59 to begin end of 2023). There has also been significant investment in cervical screening, including the introduction of the more effective HPV screening test to help us detect more cancers at an early stage, and the construction of the new National Cervical Screening Laboratory at the Coombe hospital.

I was pleased in January to launch Ireland’s roadmap to reach global targets set by the World Health Organization in eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem. This is a significant initiative in women’s health, as it is the first time the world has committed to eliminating a cancer as a public health problem. We are in a strong position to reach the global targets in Ireland, with our screening, HPV vaccination and cancer treatment programmes, to ensure this cancer becomes a rare disease for women of Ireland.

My Department, advised by the independent National Screening Advisory Committee, is also progressing a work programme to examine further expansion of population screening in Ireland. In addition, Ireland will be actively engaged with the significant ongoing collaborative work at European level to take forward the updated European Council Recommendation on cancer screening published in 2022.

In relation to the wider legal environment, the Government, at its meeting on the 31st January 2023, approved the establishment of an Interdepartmental Working Group to examine the rising cost of health-related claims and consider mechanisms to reduce costs. The Group is chaired independently by an expert healthcare professional, Dr Rhona Mahony and is comprised of membership from across key Government Departments and Agencies. The Group has commenced its work. The Group’s considerations include developing a plan to implement risk management and other initiatives to reduce the occurrence of adverse incidents, examining best international practice, receiving updates on the implementation of the Meenan Report along with other civil justice reforms and considering the policy and health system’s approach to mass claims.