David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the development of a new gender identity services model of care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24149/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the provision of proper, appropriate and integrated gender healthcare services is something that I and the HSE want to ensure is in place for those who are questioning their gender identity or are experiencing gender incongruence or dysphoria.

The HSE National Clinical Programme for Gender Healthcare has been established to develop an updated clinical Model of Care for gender healthcare services in Ireland, with the aim of designing clinical pathways to deliver safe and effective health and social care for those seeking gender healthcare services. The development and implementation of the updated clinical Model of Care will strengthen and standardise care, ensuring safety and best practice and my Department has provided €770,000 in funding for 2025 in this regard.

As in other countries, demand for gender healthcare services has increased and I acknowledge that the current public services within Ireland are limited and are not meeting people’s full range of needs and it is for this reason that the HSE is developing the new Model of Care.

The Clinical Lead for the programme is in place and recruitment is underway for the rest of the multi-disciplinary team. When in place the team will set up a working group which will have wide clinical representation and will include public and patient representation.

Additionally, a cross speciality Clinical Advisory Group has been established with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland to support the Model of Care design and development and a review of the evidence base is underway.

As part of the development of the Model of Care the clinical programme has also secured funding for a community pilot project to identify the needs of children and young people who are gender questioning and this pilot is expected to commence in the coming months.

Both I and the HSE are committed to building gender healthcare services in Ireland based on experience and the best clinical evidence. The expected date of completion for the HSE Model for Gender Healthcare is 2026. This work will also inform an implementation plan for its delivery.

The Model of Care will be developed in a consultative way, engaging with stakeholders, healthcare professionals working in gender healthcare, those that use and receive support from the service and their families.

This engagement will enable the development of an experience base to inform the design. There will also be opportunities for stakeholders to engage in the research synthesis as well as participating in the working group.

As this is an area of healthcare where there are many public voices, all efforts will be made to hear from those who have lived experience.

The initial work will involve carrying out an evidence-based review of current research. International evidence on clinical interventions, including but not limited to hormone therapies and gender affirming surgery, will be included in this review of the evidence base.

The Model of Care will consider all available information, and will not be aligned with any one study, report, or set of guidelines.

Developing a Model of Care for Gender Healthcare Services is expected to be a complex process and my department and the HSE will work closely together to support the process, ensure transparency and keep the patient at the centre of the process.

It is important that the HSE is given time to develop a Model of Care that is based on the best clinical evidence and that will deliver the best outcomes for persons with gender incongruence or dysphoria.

I and the Government as a whole, remain strongly committed to the development of appropriate gender healthcare services.