Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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854. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been brought to a new report on men's health (detail supplied); her views on the key asks; the steps she is taking to address the issues identified, in particular premature mortality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51328/25]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the new report and I did meet with Movember and officials from my Department and the HSE in advance of the launch on the 23rd of September.

Movember is a leading international charity supporting men’s health, focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health, including suicide prevention. They raise funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live healthier and longer lives.

I welcome this new research report on Men’s Health published by Movember as it sheds considerable light on the state of men’s health in Ireland today and the range of factors that shape health outcomes in men. It provides a comprehensive assessment of men’s health presenting new research and outlining the barriers for men accessing healthcare, the wider impact of men’s ill health, on families and communities as well as the economic costs to the country.

Here in Ireland, we are recognised as world leaders in men’s health following the publication of the first National Men’s Health Policy in 2009, and subsequently two further action plans in 2017 and in 2024. Throughout this period, considerable progress has been made in relation to engaging with men and service providers to develop gender specific programmes aimed at improving the overall health and wellbeing of men. Premature deaths have been reduced, networks and alliances have been established between the Voluntary, Academic and Statutory sectors and a strong research base has been developed, informing the delivery of high-quality training on men’s health and specific tailor-made health interventions for men.

We will continue to build on the progress to date, as this report highlights, and ensure we have tailored programmes to address the health needs of men and in particular disadvantaged men. We currently have a number of innovative projects on men’s health including On Feirm Ground which aims to support farmer health and wellbeing in partnership with our colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the CAIRDE Project which is a suicide prevention initiative with the construction sector.

The Men’s Development Network deliver the National Engage Training Programme on behalf of the HSE which aims to equip practitioners to better engage men with health and social services by understanding the unique factors of men's health and employing evidence-based engagement techniques. In addition, the Men’s Health Forum of Ireland coordinates Men’s Health Week on an annual basis which focuses on creating awareness among men on health-related topics.

The Irish Men’s Shed Association is funded by both my Department and the Department of Community and Rural Development which includes funding for the national office and local sheds. The Sheds for Life Programme, a 10-week community-based health promotion programme aimed at supporting the physical, mental, and social well-being of men’s sheds members is offered to sheds throughout the country.

The overall dedicated budget for Men’s Health within my department and the HSE is approximately €1.2m and any request for additional funding will be considered in the overall estimates process.

All the current programmes on offer to men in Ireland aim to improve overall health and wellbeing, however there is agreement that more gender specific programmes are required to address the challenges with disadvantaged men.

I have asked the officials in my Department and the HSE to engage with Movember and identify opportunities to work in partnership in the implementation of the Men’s Health Action Plan. I have also indicated to Movember that we will support their communications campaigns in relation to prompting men to seek help with health issues while encouraging them to avail of current screening programmes.