The Government recognises that menopause is a key health issue for women in Ireland today. Arising from the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, and through funding provided under the Women’s Health Fund, the first specialist menopause clinic opened at the National Maternity Hospital earlier this month. Budget 2022 supported further developments in menopause care with funding to increase the number of specialist menopause clinics from one clinic to four clinics nationally. These additional clinics, based in Galway, Cork and Limerick, will form a core part of a new approach to menopause care for women in Ireland and it is intended that the development of these additional clinics will be progressed in 2022.
However, as the establishment of these specialist menopause clinics is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.