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17th November 2025
05:26pm GMT
The Government has confirmed plans to roll out at-home smear tests from 2026.
The HSE believes the rollout will increase the uptake in cervical checks and will help achieve the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.
A home test has been designed for women, the HSE confirmed in a statement on World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
The tests are for women who are not comfortable or too busy to attend their CervicalCheck appointment at their GP.
The HSE will confirm full details about the at-home smear tests in the coming months.
Speaking to RTÉ's Today with David McCullagh, Dr. Caoimhe Hartley confirmed the test will be different from the one your GP conducts.
She explained, "It should be really simple, usually just involving a swab or a soft brush, and you collect a sample from the vagina."
This will then be sent to a lab following your at-home test.
Speaking on World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD said: “I’m proud that Ireland was among the first countries globally to commit to eliminating cervical cancer. Today marks an important opportunity to reflect on our progress to date, and to reaffirm our commitment to achieving our elimination goals through vaccination, screening, and treatment."
“The Cervical Cancer Partnership's work highlights our collaborative, partnership-driven approach to improving health outcomes for women across all communities. Under the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025, I’ve allocated €530,000 to support innovative initiatives aimed at increasing screening and vaccination uptake, bringing us closer to a truly equitable healthcare service and a future free from cervical cancer.”
Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer, added: “Ireland will eliminate cervical cancer community by community, through the combined efforts of people coming together to take actions that will mean that we can look forward to a future where cervical cancer is rare."
Dr Caroline Mason-Mohan, Director of Public Health, HSE National Screening Service, and Cervical Cancer Elimination partnership lead, said: “The publication of our first year’s progress report is a real milestone for the cervical cancer elimination partnership. Ireland’s current cervical cancer incidence rate is 11 per 100,000 women, based on the 2021–2023 average.
"Despite temporary fluctuations during the COVID-19 pandemic years, the long-term trend in cervical cancer incidence since the introduction of our cervical screening programme in 2009 continues to decline. We are performing strongly against the WHO’s targets and remain on track to achieve elimination by 2040.”
The school vaccination programme continues to offer the HPV vaccine to all girls and boys in 1st year of secondary school.
