Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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359. To ask the Minister for Health to give favourable consideration to a request from an organisation (details supplied) to mandate for standardised breast density reporting for women who have public and private mammograms in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21876/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am 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.

BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, currently invites women aged 50 to 69 years at regular periods to have a mammogram. The Programme for Government commits to raising the age for the BreastCheck screening programme in line with updated standards from HIQA.

I am intent on advancing the cancer screening commitments outlined in the Programme for Government, which 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 me as Minister for Health. The rigorous processes utilised by NSAC are critical to ensure that our screening programmes are effective. This is particularly important when expert opinion is divided, and uncertainty remains about whether the potential benefits outweigh the possible harms. In the case of introducing breast density measurement into breast cancer screening, a cautious, evidence-led approach is essential to ensure that any decision serves the best interests of the population and maintains the integrity of the screening programme.

In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC is progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has submitted a request to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which has a section dedicated to undertaking evidence synthesises on behalf of the Committee, to assess whether there is evidence for a further expansion of the BreastCheck programme. The review will focus on two key elements: the expansion of the age range eligibility and the potential introduction of a standardised breast density measurement.

HIQA is currently focused on two Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes underway to examine the expansion of the BowelScreen programme and the potential development of a population-based screening programme for Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA). The evidence review for the expansion of BreastCheck remains a key priority for NSAC and is expected to commence later this year.

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. Both elements of the BreastCheck review are anticipated to be complex and will take time to ensure that any recommendations made to me by NSAC are underpinned by a robust evidence-basis.

Significant investment continues to be made in our national screening programmes. This includes allocating an additional €2.9 million in full-year costs to BreastCheck for 2025. This funding will help to future-proof the programme, allowing for increased capacity and enabling service developments to meet women's evolving needs and ensure equitable access across the entire population.

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.