Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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150. To ask the Minister for Health when he will honour the Programme for Government commitments to create and implement a general health policy for trans persons based on a best practice model for care in line with the World Professional Association of Transgender Healthcare and deliver a framework for the development of national gender clinics and multidisciplinary teams for children and adults. [41490/20]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The HSE recently submitted the final report of the steering committee on the development of HSE transgender identity services to my colleague, the Minister for Health.  The Minister has asked the HSE to publish the report immediately.

The report contains seven recommendations, all pertaining to the HSE and indicates that most of the recommendations are already in progress. In particular, it recommends that the new Consultant Psychiatrist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry post will develop transgender identity services for those aged under 18, and move away from the current system of psychological support provided by Tavistock Clinic. The Minister for Health has sought an update from the HSE on the implementation of the recommendations.

The Minister for Health and I are committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government. We will support the HSE in ensuring that people wishing to transition their gender have timely access to treatment that accords with international best practice.