Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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547. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the very welcome roll-out of free HRT, whether additional supports will be provided to the small cohort or perimenopausal and menopausal women, such as those with certain cancers and women with blood clotting disorders, who cannot take HRT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31569/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2025, a €20 million allocation was secured for the introduction of a state-funded Hormone Replacement Therapy measure for women experiencing symptoms of menopause.

Under this new measure, which came into effect on 1st June 20205, where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the dispensing fees will be met by the State.

At present, the current provision is for free HRT products for the treatment of menopause symptoms as this is the most commonly used treatment for managing menopausal symptoms and has shown to be the most effective intervention.

It is important to acknowledge that there are women who are contraindicated for the use of HRT in treating their menopause symptoms, and there are women who choose not to take HRT in some instances. In these cases, it is important to discuss options with a GP, or in some cases an oncologist, to decide the best course of action for the treatment of these symptoms.

Some women experiencing more complex symptoms, including those who are contraindicated for the use of HRT, may be referred to one of our Specialist Menopause Clinics for continued care free of charge.