Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1316. To ask the Minister for Health the measures that are being taken to detect breast cancer at the earliest possible time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29157/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health, 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 extend the ages for the BreastCheck screening programme in line with updated standards from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

I would note that proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes will be facilitated through established evidence-driven protocols. The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes by assessing the evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to me as Minister. The rigorous processes utilised by NSAC are critical to ensure that our screening programmes are effective.

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 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.

In regards to early detection of breast cancer, it is worth noting that the HSE has nine symptomatic breast disease (SBD) clinics nationally to which GPs can refer patients with possible symptoms of breast cancer for assessment. These rapid access SBD clinics are located in each of the eight cancer centres with an associated centre also based in Letterkenny General Hospital.

In 2021, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) published an evidence-based National Breast Cancer GP Referral Guideline (updated from a previous 2009 referral guideline) to aid GPs in recognising which patients in primary care have symptoms that are suspicious for breast cancer, irrespective of their age. Using an electronic referral form developed in tandem with the guideline, GPs can refer appropriate patients to the SBD clinic for diagnostic tests in a timely manner and with all the information required for the clinic to triage the patient.

Patient referrals to SBD clinics are triaged by clinicians according to their symptoms on the referral. Patients triaged by SBD clinicians as urgent should be offered an appointment within two weeks, and those triaged as non-urgent based on their symptoms, within 12 weeks.

In December 2024, the NCCP published a National Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Staging of Patients with Breast Cancer (updated from a previous 2015 guideline). This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on which tests should be performed in the SBD clinics to diagnose and stage a patient’s breast cancer, and inform their treatment strategy.

Finally, I would 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.