Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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509. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the tendering for research that has been commissioned on behalf of his Department and the Department of Social Protection in relation to permitting the under-16 age group, to self-declare their gender identities and apply for a gender recognition certificate; if any organisation has been awarded the research commission; the total costs provided to carry out this research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8596/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment, in terms of gender recognition, to examine arrangements for those aged under 16.

DCEDIY has jointly commissioned research, with the Department of Social Protection, to identify the mechanisms used in other countries which govern legal gender recognition of children aged under 16 and to provide practical advice on establishing mechanisms to recognise the preferred gender of children aged under 16 in Ireland.

The aim of the research is to examine and learn from other countries that have enacted legislation, supported and engaged with the issue of gender recognition for under 16s. The research will provide practical advice to inform consideration of how the issue may be approached in Ireland.

A Request for Tenders document was issued on eTenders on 24th June with a closing date of 22nd September 2022. The research was awarded to Cambridge University Technical Services Limited in September 2022 and is ongoing at present. The total cost of the research is €35,000, ex VAT.