Health Services
Dail Éireann — 2023-09-21
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Neasa Hourigan (GP), Dublin Central

I am wondering, given that the question was put to the Department in July, whether it is possible to get some sort of timeline for those with the issues in question. As the Minister of State knows, WPATH set out that part of best practice would be to respect patients, part of which would involve a workable service. It sets out the need for local, accessible services that are affordable and not overly centralised in a way that creates barriers for people. By that, I mean we should not make it that people have to travel very far to receive services and not have them on waiting lists so long that the service becomes ineffective. If the waiting lists are long, it is not an effective service. Timely service provision is required. These are all things set out by WPATH. It is not simply about medical practice but also about wider support for the service.
Could I get some kind of timeline as to when the changes will be made and when the response to the Cass report will be implemented?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2023-09-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:11+00:00
Sitting date: 2023-09-21