Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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279. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the free HRT scheme announced in Budget 2025; when the scheme will commence for qualifying patients; if she will arrange for women who should have benefited from the scheme since 1 January 2025 to be reimbursed any expenses accrued up to the formal commencement of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15887/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health, I am committed to the implementation of the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) measure announced in Budget 2025 and reaffirmed in the new Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future.

My Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) has engaged extensively with the Irish Pharmacy Union in relation to the practical rollout of this measure.

When operational, this measure will cover any HRT medications and products which are reimbursable by the HSE, which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause.

Reimbursement support for this new HRT measure will be available to participating pharmacies from the date the measure formally commences.

I am actively engaged on the matter with the goal to introduce this measure as soon as possible.