The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) began in 2006. The aim of the program was to reduce the morbidity and mortality from bowel cancer by actively recruiting and screening the eligible target population, aged 50-74, for early detection or prevention of the disease. It is estimated that in 2024 about 7,265 people aged 50-74 will be diagnosed with bowel cancer (around 47 per cent of all bowel cancers diagnosed) and 1,793 people in this age group will die from the disease (around 34 per cent of all bowel cancer deaths).