Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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1016. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline she is working towards in extending the bowel cancer screening programme to people aged 50 to 74 years; if she is still committed to completing this programme expansion by 2026 [17510/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health, I am committed to 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.

I am intent on advancing cancer screening commitments outlined in the Programme for Government, including further extending the BowelScreen programme. The phased implementation of bowel cancer screening for individuals aged 55–57 and 71–74 will proceed on an incremental basis to ensure increased capacity and demand are appropriately matched. Consideration of any potential extension to include those aged 50–54 will be facilitated through established protocols.

The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes. NSAC assesses the evidence in a robust and transparent manner and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to myself as Minister for Health. The rigorous processes utilised by NSAC are critical to ensure that our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.

In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC continues to progress work to consider the further expansion of cancer screening. In 2024 and at the request of NSAC, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which has a section dedicated to undertaking evidence synthesises on behalf of NSAC, began consideration of the evidence for a further expansion of the age range eligibility for the BowelScreen programme to those aged 50-54.

A report on the findings of HIQA’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process is expected to be submitted to NSAC for consideration later this year and I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee shortly afterwards.

HTAs facilitate the assessment of relevant evidence and knowledge on the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies to guide decisions regarding the appropriate use of technology and efficient allocation of resources. They involve a multi-disciplinary assessment of the clinical, economic, ethical, legal and societal perspectives that may be impacted by the introduction of a new technology. They are time intensive and rigorous processes.

Finally, I would like to emphasise that population-based screening programmes are for people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact a medical professional.