Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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2366.To ask the Minister for Health if he would consider the implementation of a free menopause scheme, similar to the contraception scheme and the maternity and infant care scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32768/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government recognises that menopause is a key health issue for women in Ireland today, and much work has been done to drive progress in this area which has being driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plan.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and in particular the cost of hormone replacement therapy, has been highlighted by women as an area they would like further attention on.

I have asked my officials to explore the options available in relation to the provision of state-funded HRT to all women who require it in treating their menopause symptoms. This work is underway and details will be made available in due course.

Hormone Replacement Therapy is the most common treatment for menopause symptoms. However, not all women experiencing menopause may be clinically eligible for HRT. Additionally, some women may also choose not to take HRT and to address their symptoms through alternative therapies and/or lifestyle changes.

To support women through their menopause journeys, we have progressed significantly, through the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, to enhance holistic and clinician supports available to women. These include:

• 6 specialist menopause clinics are now open for women who have complex experiences of menopause.
• The first of these clinics opened at the National Maternity Hospital in December 2021 with five more clinics now open located in Nenagh, the Rotunda, the Coombe and University Hospital Galway and Cork.
• In the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 Phase 2: An Evolution in Women’s Health, I have committed to expanding the operating hours of these services so more women can receive necessary treatment.
• A Quick Reference Guide for Menopause launched in October 2022. This guide will support GPs and Practice Nurses in the diagnostics and treatment of menopause symptoms at the primary care level.
• The “It’s My Time” campaign launched in November 2022, in partnership with Sport Ireland, aimed at encouraging women over 40 to increase physical activity levels, which can be helpful in managing symptoms of menopause.
• In October 2022, marking International Menopause Day, I launched a National Menopause Awareness campaign. This was a direct response to the demand from Irish women for greater knowledge and understanding of menopause as well as better access to accurate information and supports so that they can proactively manage their experience. A second phase of the campaign was relaunched in March 2023 as part of the Department of Health’s Women’s Health Week.
• The Menopause Awareness campaign was accompanied by the launch of a dedicated webpage to provide trusted information for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland.
• In relation to making HRT more accessible and affordable, Budget 2023 announced the removal of VAT from Hormone Replacement Therapy products.
• In October 2023, in partnership with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, Reform, we launched the Menopause in the Workplace Policy Framework to guide all Civil Service departments and bodies in developing their own Menopause in the Workplace Policies.
• The Department of Health policy has since published our own for supporting colleagues through their menopause journeys.