Press Release: Wednesday 23 October 2024
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today welcomed the passage oflegislation through Dail Eireann that provides for publicly-funded HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Minister Donnelly introduced the legislation as part of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, which passed all stages in the Dáil this evening.
As part of Budget 2025, €20 million is being made available from January for the provision of free HRT products for women experiencing symptoms of menopause.
Minister Donnelly said:
“I’m pleased that Dáil Éireann has today provided a legal basis for the provision of free HRT to women experiencing the symptoms of menopause.
“We will ensure that where a woman has been prescribed HRT by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of those products will be met by the State.
“Since I became Minister for Health in 2020, I’ve prioritised progressing women’s health, and I’m proud to say that since 2020 this Government has allocated €180 million to targeted new developments in women’s healthcare.
“This has ensured new services in menopause and endometriosis, the roll-out of free contraception, publicly-funded IVF, and a range of initiatives to deliver more timely care to women.”
The legislation will now go to Seanad Éireann.
