David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2005. To ask the Minister for Health if she accepts that the delay in delivering free HRT to women is unacceptable; the steps she has taken to deliver on commitments given; if she further accepts that failure in this areas does not rest with pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18692/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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2206. To ask the Minister for Health if a system is in place that enables women to access free HRT by only paying the dispensing fee to the pharmacist and not paying for the medication itself; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19715/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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2207. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the roll-out of the free HRT scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19716/25]

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2246. To ask the Minister for Health if women will be provided backdated payments for HRT arising from the scheme being delayed since January; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19858/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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2293. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay to the introduction of free HRT medication which was to be available from January 2025; when it will be freely available; the process for accessing this medication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20122/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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2369. To ask the Minister for Health when free HRT products will be made available; if some of the delayed period can be backdated at least; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20507/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2005, 2206, 2207, 2246, 2293 and 2369 together.

I recently announced that from the 1st June 2025, the provision of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products for the treatment of the symptoms of menopause will be provided free to women at the point of dispensing. The implementation of this measure will now include a dispensing fee for pharmacists. This is step forward from the Budget 2025 announcement which only covered the medication costs.

My Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) has engaged extensively with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in relation to the practical roll-out of this measure. I regret that the implementation of this measure could not be agreed with the IPU, despite engagement over many months.

However, I must follow through on the commitment made in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future. 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 will commence from the 1st June 2025.

I want to see pharmacists practising at their full potential, delivering expert professional services and expanded healthcare roles like diagnosing and prescribing for common conditions. This will enhance patient access to health care, speed up diagnoses, and improve recovery, as we also continue to expand GP services for Ireland’s growing population. I look forward to working on this with pharmacies as the year progresses.