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Press release

Minister for Health announces the National Screening Advisory Committee’s 2025 Call for Submissions

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has today launched the National Screening Advisory Committee’s (NSAC) Call for Submissions for 2025.

NSAC is the independent committee which makes recommendations to the Minister for Health on the introduction of new population-based screening programmes or changes to existing programmes.

The Call for Submissions is an annual process that invites members of the public and health professionals to make submissions on Ireland’s screening programmes. These submissions are important in informing the work programme of the Committee.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

"I recognise the crucial role that population health screening programmes play in modern healthcare. The potential of screening to be able to detect disease early, before any symptoms have developed, often enables access to earlier treatment with corresponding improved outcomes for those who avail of it, and in many cases, reduced mortality.

"Our Programme for Government commits to the continued expansion of screening programmes to further improve the health of our population. Calls for Submissions are important in providing part of the evidence base required by NSAC to make recommendations to me and I would strongly encourage people to consider making a submission."

The NSAC Chair, Dr Suzanne Crowe said:

"On behalf of the National Screening Advisory Committee, I am excited to see the launch of this year’s Call for Submissions.

"For this year’s Call, we have introduced an online application form. We have also implemented a reconfigured work programme, which outlines the status of each of the submissions previously made to NSAC in a clear and transparent manner. If you have suggestions on how to improve our submission process further, we would welcome your input.

"As with previous Calls for Submissions, I would call on anyone with a proposal for a new screening programme or a suggested change to one of Ireland’s existing screening programmes to consider making a submission before the Call closes on Friday 12 September 2025."

The 2025 Call for Submissions will remain open until 5pm on Friday 12 September 2025. Full details on how to make a submission are available at www.nsacommittee.gov.ie

Notes

NSAC is the independent advisory committee which advises the Minister and Department of Health on all new proposals for population-based screening programmes and changes to existing programmes.

The Committee was established in late 2019 following recommendations in Dr Gabriel Scally’s report into the CervicalCheck screening programme. It meets between three and four times per year. Members are appointed by the Minister for Health on a voluntary basis, with representation across a diverse range of areas of expertise.

The six current population-based screening programmes are as follows:

For further details on the submission process and how applications are considered by the Committee, please visit the NSAC website or contact the Secretariat directly at NSAC_Secretariat@health.gov.ie

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