Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
1079. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will outline the specialist treatment options or referral pathways available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6253/26]
View answerOn 18 October 2025, I launched the National Framework for the management of Endometriosis. The Framework sets out for the first time in Ireland a defined clinical pathway for women with endometriosis, which spans primary to secondary care to specialist complex care in tertiary settings.
Implementation of the Framework is ongoing. Specialist regional centres, which provide interdisciplinary care to women experience moderate stages of endometriosis, have been established in the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, and University Hospital Galway. Severe cases can be referred to two tertiary specialist centres in Dublin (Tallaght University Hospital) and Cork (Cork University Maternity Hospital).
The specialist centres in Tallaght and Cork are designed to manage the complex, severe and deeply infiltrating cases of endometriosis that often require multi-speciality surgical expertise e.g. gynaecology, colorectal and urology.
All endometriosis sites are operational and taking referrals. Additional funding was provided last year to expand these services through the recruitment of more personnel to provide multidisciplinary care at both supra-regional and regional level, including clinical nurse specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists and psychologists.
The Government is committed to expanding our specialist endometriosis services, improving support services for women and promoting awareness of endometriosis both among the public and within our health services.
As the individual case referenced here is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
