Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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369. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the Men's Health Action Plan 2024-2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36861/25]

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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370. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the new national sexual health strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36862/25]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Sexual health is a priority for this Government. The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035 and the first National Sexual Health Action Plan, 2025-2028 were approved by Government on the 10th of June, 2025 and published on 25th June, 2025.

The drafting process for the National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035, commenced in 2023, following a review of the previous Strategy. The Drafting Committee included policy, service delivery and clinical experts, working within the Department and HSE, and the Strategy underwent an additional round of stakeholder consultation and feedback, completed in mid-2024. Feedback and input was also sought from other key partners across Government.

It was decided that the Strategy should be launched under the new Government in order to incorporate priorities from the Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, 2025. The Strategy is supported by the National Sexual Health Action Plan, 2025-2028, that maps out implementation plans for the first 3 years of its term. The Action Plan is included in the Strategy document: both are currently available on the Healthy Ireland website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/healthy-ireland/policy-information/national-sexual-health-strategy-2025-2035/

Service improvements detailed in the Strategy have been ongoing while it was being finalised; an additional €1.35m has been allocated to free home STI testing, HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and the free contraception scheme in 2025. The first meeting of the Implementation Group was held on 24th June and the initial focus will be on setting up governance structures and partnerships.

The Press Release for the Strategy can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/press-releases/ministers-for-health-publish-the-national-sexual-health-strategy-2025-2035/

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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371. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the planned skin cancer awareness programme. [36863/25]