Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
617. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to establish a working group to develop a gender identity service model of care for young persons; if so, the timeline that he is working towards for establishing this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45034/22]
View answerThe report of the steering committee on the development of HSE transgender services was published in 2020. The report acknowledged the additional funding made available to develop services in recent years. It advised on the development of seamless interfaces between agencies providing gender services and developed a job description for a consultant psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry to lead on the development of a services for those aged under 18 years. Subsequently, this position was advertised twice but has not yet been filled.
Minister Donnelly and Minister Butler recently held a constructive meeting with a number of clinicians from the National Gender Service. They intend to meet with the HSE and other stakeholders to hear their views and proposals regarding the development of such a service for young people in Ireland.
Minister Donnelly, Minister Butler and I are committed to working with the HSE to provide a gender identify service that meets the health needs of children and young people.
