Written answer
Health Screening Programmes
The Minister said Ireland will evaluate its Lung Health Check pilot, launched in 2025 for higher-risk people in North Dublin and the North-East, before considering targeted lung cancer screening. Any recommendation will follow evidence-based assessment by the National Screening Advisory Committee and HIQA, with symptomatic people advised to seek medical attention.
376. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the consideration, if any, her Department has given to targeted, risk stratified cancer screening for lung cancer for persons. [66188/26]
Comment on this
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.
The Programme for Government commits to evaluate the current lung cancer screening pilot in line with WHO criteria and develop recommendations for a way forward.
The ‘Lung Health Check’ pilot, an Irish-based prospective study involving Beaumont Hospital and the RCSI, was launched in March 2025 under the EU4Health-funded SOLACE project. It aims to assess the feasibility of instituting a community-based lung health check programme in Ireland by inviting individuals in the North Dublin and the North-East region who are identified as being of higher risk of lung problems to attend their mobile screening unit for breathing tests and a low-dose chest CT scan.
The pilot is primarily funded by the Irish Cancer Society and supported by the SOLACE consortium, with funding provided by my Department’s Women’s Health Fund.
It should be emphasised that any proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes will be considered through established, evidence-driven protocols. The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence rigorously and transparently against internationally accepted criteria before making recommendations to me as Minister for Health.
The robust processes used by NSAC are essential to ensure screening programmes are effective, quality assured, and safe and that the benefits of screening outweigh potential harms. This is determined through what are known as Health Technology Assessments (HTA), which are undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
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.
Across Europe, several major research initiatives are underway to assess the feasibility of lung cancer screening programmes, many involving Irish-based researchers. The findings from these studies will contribute to the evidence base for future consideration by NSAC. I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee in due course.
Finally, I would emphasise that 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 immediately.