Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1334. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has engaged with the European Commission in the development of the EU-wide cardiovascular disease strategy; and the way in which Ireland intends to align national policy with the EU focus on early detection and screening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48964/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has made progress in tackling CVD. Today, CVD mortality is about half of the levels of 1995, however, CVD still accounts for a large percentage of all deaths in Ireland. The absolute number of CVD cases has increased due to the rise in population and Ireland’s ageing demographics. CVD imposes significant social and personal costs for patients including reduced quality of life, and potential lost earnings.

CVD and its management are prioritised through national policy, strategies, and clinical programmes, which include models of care for stroke, acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and chronic disease management. The Programme for Government (PfG) 2025 commits to “Building on the existing National Cardiovascular Policy, we will develop a new and more ambitious plan enhancing patient care and timely access across all regions.”

Cardiovascular health has been prioritised in Budget 2025, which allocated over €9 million in full-year funding to support vital cardiovascular initiatives. More specifically, Budget 2025 allocated €4 million full year costs, and 45 WTEs to progress cardiac services. This investment facilitates the initial steps in cardiac services reform and will support the development of a new cardiovascular strategy in the longer term. In the short term, we will deliver enhanced cardiac services and develop the necessary structures to ensure success in the longer term.

With regard to services for stoke, the National Stroke Strategy was published in 2022 and over €13m has been allocated to its implementation to date. The Stroke Strategy aims to modernise our Stroke services in line with Sláintecare and ensure the future readiness of services given our ageing demography and the predicted rise in stroke incidence in coming decades. Most recently in Budget 2025, of the €9m invested in Cardiovascular Health, full year costs of €5m were allocated which will provide 56 WTEs to strengthen Acute Stroke units and expand the Early Supported Discharge Team network from 11- 15 teams nationally.

Irish officials working with EU colleagues contributed to a new Council Conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the European Union adopted on 3rd December 2024, marking a strong political commitment towards improving cardiovascular health across Europe. Continuing this work, my officials are engaging with counterparts in the EU on the development of the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. Irish stakeholders have contributed to the European Commission’s ‘call for evidence’ to inform the Plan.

I am committed to supporting Ireland’s 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. Consideration of any 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 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, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.

NSAC holds annual Calls for Submissions, which invite proposals from all stakeholders and organisations, including members of the public, HSE and other medical professionals, for the introduction of new screening programmes or changes to existing programmes. The 2025 NSAC Call for Submissions closed on 12 September 2025. All proposals received will be carefully considered by the Committee at its upcoming meetings.