Questions

563. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual expenditure on standard lipid profile tests ordered from primary care for each year since 2019, based on available data, including the current estimated average cost range per test where precise figures are not available; the reasons for variation in cost per test between regions or providers; and her plans to reduce unwarranted variation and …

574. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the date by which spinal muscular atrophy will be included in the newborn heel prick test, given that her predecessor made a commitment to that effect two years ago. [67215/25]

575. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health when newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy will be rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67223/25]

580. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a free, organised national prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening programme for men from age 40; the estimated number of men aged 40 to 69 in Ireland; the scale and costs involved; whether the National Screening Advisory Committee has completed its health technology assessment; and when a decision can be expected; and if she will make a …

581. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the date on which the National Screening Advisory Committee and Health Information and Quality Authority will finalise their health technology assessment on a prostate cancer screening programme; if there are plans to offer interim free PSA tests; if men aged 40 to 69 in the current pilot will be allowed to continue screening beyond the pilot sites; and if she wi…

582. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for an update on evaluation timelines for Ireland's PRAISE U/ProstateCheck pilot involving 5,000 men in Dublin and Waterford; whether preliminary results have been shared; when these results will be published; if there are plans to extend opt-in PSA screening to all men aged 40 to 69 nationally, particularly those at high-risk; and if she will make a statement on…

583. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the cost-effectiveness modelling that has been carried out for organised PSA plus digital rectal examination screening starting at age 40 to 69; whether Irish cost-benefit analyses indicate net savings across this age group; the assumptions on uptake, overdiagnosis, potential harms, and subsequent treatments that were made; the monetary and health outcomes that c…

584. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the national public-awareness and behaviour change campaigns planned to encourage men aged 40 to 69 to take part in prostate-cancer screening; whether a dedicated campaign will be developed; the way in which regional inequities in incidence and survival will be addressed; the supports that will be made available to men hesitant to seek PSA testing due to cost or …

585. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the steps the National Cancer Control Programme and HSE will take to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment resulting from PSA testing, to ensure adherence to updated clinical guidelines on follow-up biopsies and imaging; whether HIQA has guidelines and clinical safety protocols in place; the way in which patient quality-of-life outcomes will be monitored followi…

148. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason the expansion of the newborn bloodspot screening programme to include spinal muscular atrophy and severe combined immunodeficiency has still not been implemented, despite being approved in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64321/25]

151. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the resources that will be made available for the scanning of women with dense breasts, in whom cancer may not be detectable by mammogram; the protocols which would automatically refer such women for follow-up testing after a mammogram; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64319/25]

174. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when her Department will ensure the addition of spinal muscular atrophy to the Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme, which is crucial to early diagnosis and support, and which was endorsed by the then Minister in November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64375/25]

1041. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of conditions currently screened for in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63150/25]

1042. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand the number of conditions that are currently screened for in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63151/25]

1043. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health to provide all recommendations from the National Screening Advisory Committee since 2019 regarding the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63152/25]

1044. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health to provide the recommendations from the National Screening Advisory Committee since 2019 regarding the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme that have not been implemented; to provide details of when the recommendation was made and when it will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63153/25]

1055. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department will engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science regarding the shortage of radiation therapists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63235/25]

1056. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the efforts her Department is making to ensure a greater uptake of women attend the BreastCheck screening considering less than 70% of women accept an appointment for first mammogram; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63236/25]

1057. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently eligible for BreastCheck screening who are waiting for their first appointment in the CHO 4 area; the number of individuals currently awaiting follow up appointments in the same area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63237/25]

1058. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of breast screening locations in Cork; if consideration has been given to increasing the number of locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63238/25]

1059. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to increasing the number of breast screening locations nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63239/25]

1061. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to delayed implementation of spinal muscular atrophy in the heelprick test for babies; the timeline for the implementation of spinal muscular atrophy in the heelprick test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63246/25]

452. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting for BreastCheck screening in counties Wicklow and Wexford; the length of time they have been waiting; the number of patients carried over on the waiting list from 2024 who were not seen on time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62450/25]

923. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) screening in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; if she will confirm the expected timeline for the commencement of routine SMA screening for newborns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60986/25]

933. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the staffing numbers in the national cervical screening laboratory, by discipline and Grade of their employment; the vacancies that exist in each discipline and in each grade, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61020/25]