Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to expand specialist services in endometriosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24155/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Government has invested over €5 million for specialist endometriosis care since 2021. This has funded 2 supra-regional tertiary centres and five supporting regional hubs. The supra-regional centres are managed from Cork University Maternity Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital. Regional hubs operate from the Rotunda, the Coombe, the National Maternity Hospital, University Maternity Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway. Specialist sites are staffed by multidisciplinary teams delivering a patient centred service.

This investment has ensured that women with endometriosis can receive the level of care they need. The five regional hubs are accepting referrals for specialist services. Supra-regional sites are accepting referrals for complex, severe cases of endometriosis.

Over 1,150 new patients were seen through our specialist endometriosis services in 2024. More than 300 surgical interventions were provided between August and December 2024. On average, 72% of women on specialist endometriosis waiting lists were seen within 6 months in that time.

Investment in the waiting list action plan has positively impacted waiting times. In April 2025, 77% of women on the gynaecology waiting list were waiting less than 6 months. This compares to 55% in September 2021.

€2.175 million has been allocated to our specialist endometriosis services in 2025. Recruitment of 18.6 Whole Time Equivalents is ongoing. This investment underpins the Programme for Government commitment to continue to expand specialist services in endometriosis.