Questions

2103. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive review of the Cass Review identified any recommendations relating to safeguarding, diagnostic standards, risk mitigation, or clinical governance in the treatment of children and adolescents presenting with gender incongruence or dysphoria; and whether such recommendations are being incorporated into the developing Model of Car…

2104. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the completion and publication of the updated Model of Care for gender healthcare services being developed by the Health Service Executive; the stages remaining in that process; and whether the Model of Care will be subject to public or professional consultation before adoption. [20291/26]

2105. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the State currently maintains a national dataset recording referrals, diagnoses, treatment pathways, clinical interventions and outcomes for persons receiving gender healthcare services in Ireland; if no such dataset currently exists, when she expects one to be established; and whether the development of such a dataset forms part of the updated Model of C…

2106. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health or the Health Service Executive conducts periodic clinical audits or outcome evaluations of gender healthcare services delivered within the public health system; if such audits are conducted, the frequency and scope of those audits; and if not, whether such a mechanism will be introduced as part of the new Model of Care. [20293/26…

2107. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the evidence base being relied upon by the Health Service Executive in developing the updated Model of Care for gender healthcare services; whether international clinical reviews, including the Cass Review and equivalent reviews in other jurisdictions, are being formally considered; and how such evidence will inform Irish clinical standards. [20294/26]

2108. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the respective roles of her Department and the Health Service Executive in approving the updated Model of Care for gender healthcare services; whether the final Model of Care will require ministerial approval; and whether the Department retains oversight of safeguarding standards applicable to services for persons under 18. [20295/26]

520. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has received the completed report of the expert clinical group examining the implications for Ireland of the Cass Review; on what date it was received by her Department or the HSE CEO; whether she has requested a copy; whether she intends to publish the report in full; if not, the statutory or policy basis for withholding publication; and if she will m…

521. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal interim clinical governance framework, written safeguards, or ministerial policy directions are currently in force governing the provision of gender-related healthcare services to children and adolescents pending completion of the updated National Model of Care; whether any elements of clinical practice have been paused, amended or restricted during thi…

522. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has approved or mandated a national data collection framework, minimum dataset, or outcome monitoring system for gender identity services for children and young people; if not, when such a framework will be introduced; and how clinical outcomes, adverse events and long-term follow-up are currently monitored at national level. [158…

527. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has approved a national dataset, reporting framework, or outcome measurement standard for gender identity services provided to children and adolescents; if not, when such a framework is expected to be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15855/26]

2165. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance and policy framework approved by her Department for gender identity services for children and young people; the date of the most recent Departmental review of that framework; the role of her Department in setting safeguarding and clinical governance standards for these services; and how compliance with those standards is monitored at national level…

298. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the policy basis under which WPATH guidance and standards were incorporated into State policy on gender identity healthcare between 2018 and 2023; the departmental assessments carried out to determine the scientific, clinical and regulatory standing of WPATH before that alignment; and the documentation underpinning that policy decision. [70451/25]

299. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to clarify the Government’s current policy position regarding WPATH guidance in light of the Cass Review; whether any formal review has been initiated into the suitability of WPATH standards for use in Irish clinical services; and the timeline for a revised evidence-based national clinical framework. [70452/25]

302. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the Department’s assessment of governance failures identified in the Cass Review as they relate to historical Irish referrals to Tavistock; the lessons identified by the Department; and the policy adjustments introduced to prevent a recurrence in Ireland. [70455/25]

303. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish the Department’s analysis of the referral figures for Irish children sent to the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service, as referenced in the HSE report on the implications of the Cass Review; and to outline how these data informed policy changes since 2020. [70456/25]

304. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy rationale used by the Department when approving the 2021 consultant post in child and adolescent psychiatry requiring adherence to WPATH Standards of Care; and whether this requirement will now be reviewed or withdrawn in light of international evidence and the Cass Review. [70457/25]

305. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the Department’s safeguarding and clinical governance standards for gender identity services for minors; and to confirm whether these standards require full psychiatric assessment, developmental history, autism screening, and differential diagnosis before any medical intervention is considered. [70458/25]

306. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the Department’s policy on the collection, verification and publication of data relating to gender identity services for children and young people, including referral numbers, diagnostic profiles, comorbidities and treatment outcomes; and to confirm the timeline for establishing a national dataset meeting international evidence standards. [70459/25]

307. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has reviewed the 2014 Irish prevalence study by a person (details supplied) and colleagues regarding suspected or confirmed gender dysphoria in adults; and to detail how such prevalence data inform planning, service capacity and risk assessment for youth services. [70460/25]

625. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth her current position on gender identity education in primary schools, in light of statements made by the former Minister for Children (details supplied) that primary school children should be educated about what it means to be transgender and that children under 16 might have pathways to self-declare their gender identity; and the steps Departments ha…

885. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has issued guidance to schools regarding the use of preferred pronouns and names for children identifying as transgender; if parents or guardians are required to be informed or consulted before such changes are made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59858/25]

886. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has reviewed the available clinical evidence relating to social transition in children, including the use of preferred pronouns and names in schools; and the safeguarding measures which are in place to ensure that school practices are consistent with evidence-based child welfare standards. [59859/25]

887. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the guidance which is provided to teachers on the use of gender pronouns in the classroom; the way in which her Department ensures that teachers are not placed in positions of conflict or undue influence in matters relating to a child's gender identity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59860/25]

888. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the guidance or direction her Department provides to primary and secondary schools regarding the use of bathrooms and changing rooms by pupils who identify as transgender; whether schools are required to allow a child to use the facilities corresponding to their gender identity where gender-neutral options do not exist; and if she will make a statemen…

889. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which schools are being supported to balance respect for all students with safeguarding responsibilities and parental rights in cases where a child requests to use a different name or pronoun; her Departments current policy on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59862/25]