The first pilot screening programme of its kind for lung cancer has been announced for the communities of north Dublin and the northeast, using mobile scanning units.
The pilot clinical trial will focus on high-risk individuals, particularly current or former smokers.
Doctors believe that it could help detect around 100 lung cancers.
The service will be based in local GAA clubs, including Croke Park, bringing convenient screening to community locations for those invited.
The project involves Beaumont RCSI and is funded by the Irish Cancer Society by €4.9m.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Ireland.
The Lung Health Check will invite high-risk individuals in Centric Health GP practices in north Dublin and the northeast region to attend a lung health check at a mobile scanning unit.
Introducing lung health checks for high-risk individuals using low dose CT scans has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality by at least 20%.
The first invitations for the Lung Health Check will be sent by selected GP practices over the coming months, with the first participants expected to undergo screening by early summer.
Averil Power, Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society, said it was the largest single investment in lung cancer here.
Doctors say early detection is key to improving survival rates and this initiative is designed to identify lung cancer and other lung conditions before symptoms appear.
Professor Daniel Ryan, Respiratory Consultant, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Clinical Lead, Lung Health Check Pilot, said that if people receive an invitation, he strongly encourages them to take part.
He said the project is breaking down barriers that have long stood in the way of early detection.
In Ireland, around 60% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are detected at a later stage, when treatment options are more limited.
Read more: Lung cancer survivor says new research programme 'phenomenal'
