Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to expand specialist services in endometriosis. [52387/25]

Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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159. To ask the Minister for Health when she expects the national endometriosis framework to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52364/25]

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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185. To ask the Minister for Health the plans to address the significant waiting list for endometriosis care, the understaffing of endometriosis hubs, with 747 women waiting for surgery; the financial supports being considered for women who are forced to travel abroad for essential care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52430/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 159 and 185 together.

The National Framework for Endometriosis has been agreed with all stakeholders and is ready to be published.

The HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme is implementing the National Framework and will assess and identify the ongoing requirements to build current and future capacity, improve clinical pathways and increase expertise within our endometriosis services.

Two supra-regional specialist centres, in Tallaght University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital, have been established for the management of complex endometriosis cases.

Regional Specialist Centres for moderate cases have been established in the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, and University Hospital Limerick, with clinics under further development in University Hospital Galway and the National Maternity Hospital.

Funding of over €5 million has been invested in endometriosis services since 2021. This includes investment of over €2 million this year to further drive development of services.

More than 300 specialist surgeries were provided across the network between August and December 2024 and over 500 surgeries were carried out in the first half of this year.

On 1st September a Patient Voice Forum was held in the Department of Health. The Minister met with more than 50 advocates who shared their experiences of endometriosis. This forum was also attended by the HSE CEO Bernard Gloster and Department officials.

Patient voices have directly influenced changes to the completed framework. Following the forum, an immediate action plan was mandated by the Minister.

More than 100 additional surgeries will now be carried out across all regions this year. Over €0.5m has been provided to support this. In addition to facilitate complex surgeries, an additional colorectal surgeon is being recruited to our specialist services.

The HSE is providing additional support for women within the Treatment Abroad Schemes. A dedicated email address, Endometriosisabroad@hse.ie, is ready to assist women with this service.

An Endometriosis Group with patient advocates and Women's Health Taskforce members has been established. International endometriosis experts will be invited to collaborate and engage with our clinicians. The Minister will write to all GPs, consultants and other clinicians. Alongside the framework, this will serve to further raise awareness of endometriosis.

The HSE is working to improve long-term expertise in diagnostics and treatment, and to build future capacity. A GP Practice Update and an endometriosis awareness campaign will maintain focus following from the publication of the Framework.

We will continue to listen and support women impacted by endometriosis.