Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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436. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the rollout of the national endometriosis framework; the way in which its implementation will be monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60705/25]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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437. To ask the Minister for Health whether funding has been allocated for the establishment of new specialist endometriosis hubs in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60706/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 437 together.

The National Framework for the Management of Endometriosis in Ireland was published on 18th October 2025.

Developed by the HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP), the Framework reflects the voices of patient advocates and aims to transform how endometriosis is recognised and treated across the country. Central to the Model of Care is the principle of presumed diagnosis, acknowledging that women are always the most reliable narrators of their own symptoms and pain.

Implementation of the Framework is ongoing. 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.

All endometriosis sites are operational and taking referrals with 1,150 new patients seen through the specialist services in 2024. Funding of over €5 million has been invested in the specialist services since 2021.

Additional funding has been provided this year to expand these services through the recruitment of more personnel to provide multidisciplinary care at both supra-regional and regional level, including clinical nurse specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists and psychologists.

My Department and I will work closely with the NWIHP and the HSE to oversee the implementation of the Framework and the performance of the specialist services.

The HSE has carried out an analysis of the short term and medium-term requirements to build adequate capacity, improve clinical pathways and increase expertise within our endometriosis services. The expansion of endometriosis services in 2026 will be supported through the National Service Plan. The HSE’s budget for 2026 will be €27.4 billion, an increase of 6.2% on 2025, allowing for expansion and improvement in services, including endometriosis, and the recruitment of 3,300 additional staff.