Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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742. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm whether he has met with transgender representative groups in respect of consultation with regards to transgender health care in Ireland; if so, if he will confirm what engagement has taken place; what engagement he intends on undertaking with these groups in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15460/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is 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 2020, a steering committee was established to address specific issues in relation to the development of Transgender Identity Services. The Committee had a wide range of stakeholders from the agencies involved in delivering care, as well as service user representatives, including a representative from TENI.

The Minister for Health has met with TENI, the transgender representative body, to hear their views on service design and delivery.

The HSE is committed to developing a seamless and integrated service for those with gender identity issues on an ongoing basis, with the support of all relevant stakeholders, and are focused on providing a high quality and safe service to an often extremely vulnerable patient group. Throughout this process, the HSE will be consulting with a wide range of stakeholders in the development of the new model of care. Including those who provide and use these services, and representative groups.

I strongly believe that patients have a central role to play in the development of health policy and the reform of the health services. I am committed to engaging with transgender representative groups to hear their views on service design and delivery.