Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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376. To ask the Minister for Health when she expects the free HRT (hormone replacement therapy) scheme to be implemented as the delay is causing women unnecessary distress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27830/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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377. To ask the Minister for Health if she plans to include the cost of the necessary general practitioner (GP) consultations to obtain a prescription for HRT when implementing the free HRT (hormone replacement therapy) scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27831/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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382. To ask the Minister for Health if all dispensing pharmacies are obligated to part take in the free hormone replacement therapy scheme once it is implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27848/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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390. To ask the Minister for Health if the refund of the costs incurred for hormone replacement therapy (details supplied) will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27962/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 376, 377, 382 and 390 together.

As recently announced, the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) arrangement will commence on 1st June 2025, with the full support of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU).

Pharmacies have until the 1st June to sign up and, with the IPU's endorsement, it is anticipated that the vast majority of pharmacies will sign up. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is developing a “pharmacy finder” which will allow women to find the nearest participating pharmacy to them.

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.

This measure is targeted at assisting women who do not have access to a medical card or whose HRT costs fall below the current Drugs Payment Scheme threshold of €80 per month. Prescription charges for medical card holders will no longer apply when such HRT products are dispensed to them.

Reimbursement support will only commence from the 1st June 2025. A different and more complex mechanism would be needed to refund individuals for HRT costs incurred prior to that date. However, the measure as planned will now involve no costs for the prescribed HRT product at the point of dispensing in participating pharmacies. This is good news for the women of Ireland.