Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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620. To ask the Minister for Health if it is intended that the National Gender Service Ireland will expand its service to treat Irish children and young persons who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria in Ireland, given that a British healthcare setting (details supplied), which takes referrals from Irish children and young persons who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, is to change to a regional service and will no longer be taking these referrals; if so, the timeframe for this to become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52989/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to create and implement a general health policy for transgender people, based on a best practice model for care, and to deliver a framework for the development of national gender clinics and MDTs for children and adults. A steering committee produced a report on the development of HSE transgender identity services in 2020. The committee included representatives of all stakeholders, including advocacy representatives, and was chaired by Dr Siobhan Ni Bhriain on behalf of the chief clinical officer.

The report acknowledged the additional funding made available to develop services in recent years. It advised on the development of seamless interfaces between agencies providing gender services. The committee agreed a job description for a consultant psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry in CHO 7 and CHI to develop the service for those aged under 18 (and to replace the current system of psychological support provided by the Tavistock Clinic). The consultant psychiatrist would develop and lead a MDT to support the delivery of gender identity services. Subsequently, this position was advertised twice but has not yet been filled.

In the interim, the Tavistock Clinic provides psychological assessments for Irish children seeking gender identity services, under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. The TAS enables a public healthcare consultant to refer a patient to the public health service in the EU, UK or Switzerland for treatment not available in Ireland. Once the criteria are met, the HSE is obliged to fund the care.

A NHS-commissioned review of the Tavistock clinic has recommended closure and a move to a local/regional approach to service provision, in line with other paediatric services. The HSE is reviewing the NHS report and assessing the potential impact for existing pathways of care and service delivery. The HSE national clinical advisory and group lead for mental health meets regularly with Tavistock Clinic to discuss waiting list issues. The HSE have also been engaging with Professor Cass in relation to the Interim Cass Report. The HSE has not received any complaints about the services provided by the clinic. The HSE is actively seeking services in other countries to replace the Tavistock Clinic.

The Department received a report on the Cass report from the Office of the National Clinical Director and Lead for Integrated Care in the HSE, which is currently being considered.

Minister Donnelly and Minister Butler recently held a constructive meeting with a number of clinicians from the National Gender Service. They intend to meet with the HSE and other stakeholders to hear their views and proposals.

Minister Donnelly, Minister Butler and I are committed to working with the HSE to provide a gender identify service that meets the health needs of children and young people.