David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Health if she will deliver a genuinely free hormone replacement therapy scheme similar to the universal contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10082/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I recognise that menopause is an important health and well-being issue affecting many women in Ireland.

Budget 2025 allocated €20m to assist with the cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products prescribed to women to help manage the symptoms associated with menopause.

This represents another step to widen access to and reduce costs associated with menopause related treatments.

It will cover HRT medicines/products reimbursable by the HSE, which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause.

Having regard to the allocated budget, and to avoid limiting access for women based on age or some other criteria, the measure does not include the cost of GP consultations or pharmacy dispensing fees.

GP consultations are already covered for those with GP visit cards or with medical cards.

Medical card holders pay a small prescription charge to access prescribed medicines, including HRT.

I met with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) on 11 February 2025 to discuss my objectives for expanding and reforming community pharmacy, and to progress the HRT initiative.

This was a constructive engagement, and I listened to issues raised by the IPU. The IPU committed to coming to back to me with further information. This has recently been received and is being considered by my Department.

The goal remains to introduce this HRT measure as soon as possible.