Questions

863. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether her Department, the National Screening Service or the National Screening Advisory Committee has examined the use of supplemental or alternative imaging modalities for women whose risk profile may reduce the effectiveness of routine mammography screening; and if she will provide details of any reviews, pilots or assessments undertaken. [73385/26]

864. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether consideration is being given to the introduction of risk stratified breast cancer screening pathways for women who are currently outside the BreastCheck age criteria; and if she will outline any options under consideration. [73384/26]

865. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the additional staffing, diagnostic capacity, mobile screening units and funding allocated to BreastCheck since January 2025 to address capacity constraints; and the impact of these measures on waiting times to date. [73383/26]

866. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the current average interval between BreastCheck screening appointments nationally and by region and the number of persons currently waiting more than 24 months, 27 months and 30 months respectively for a routine BreastCheck appointment; and the measures being taken to reduce these delays. [73382/26]

189. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the full implementation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy, following the recommendation of the National Screening Advisory Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6716/26]

190. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the reason for the ongoing delays in fully implementing previously approved additions to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6717/26]

1045. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the current status of the lung health check pilot lung cancer screening programme; the number of participants invited and screened to date; the locations in which the pilot is operating; the interim findings available to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6035/26]

1046. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the evaluation framework for the lung health check pilot; the body responsible for carrying out the evaluation; the clinical and cost effectiveness metrics being assessed; the timeline for the completion and publication of the evaluation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6036/26]

1047. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health when she expects a decision to be made, following completion of the evaluation, on whether to recommend the establishment of a national lung cancer screening programme; whether any provisional timelines have been set for such a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6037/26]

1048. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive has undertaken preparatory planning for a potential national roll out of lung cancer screening informed by the lung health check pilot, including consideration of capacity, resourcing and integration with primary care; if so, to provide details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6038/26]

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…