Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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645. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the concerns of over 100 Irish academics expressed in an open letter (details supplied) about a report on transgender healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18880/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, a new clinical programme for gender healthcare has been initiated by the HSE, and over the next two years an updated clinical model for gender healthcare services will be developed. The work will be informed by the best evidence based clinical care for individuals who express gender incongruence or dysphoria. Emerging and evolving international evidence, including the recently published Cass report will be reviewed as part of this work.

There is a clear and well-established approach to the development of this model of care which will incorporate best available clinical evidence and input from healthcare professionals, patient advocates and those with lived experience.

I welcome the development of a model of care which will deliver a high quality seamless and integrated service for people with gender identity issues.