Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
953. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department considers it acceptable that it does not receive national waiting-list data for PrEP services; whether this limits ministerial oversight of access to HIV prevention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36538/26]
View answer954. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she will require the HSE to provide quarterly national reporting on PrEP waiting times, demand, capacity and unmet clinical need. [36539/26]
View answer955. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the estimated excess demand of approximately 30% for PrEP services has now been eliminated following additional capacity introduced in Q3 and Q4 2025; and if not, the current estimated level of excess demand. [36540/26]
View answer956. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national maximum waiting-time standard for access to PrEP services will be introduced under the forthcoming sexual health Model of Care. [36541/26]
View answer957. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has set any national target for the number of public and private PrEP providers required to meet demand in each region. [36542/26]
View answer958. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has received any assessment from the HSE on geographic disparities in access to PrEP services, including rural and regional access gaps. [36543/26]
View answer959. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a centralised national PrEP access register or demand-tracking system will be established. [36544/26]
View answer960. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the public-health risk arising where clinically eligible individuals cannot access PrEP within a clinically appropriate timeframe. [36545/26]
View answer961. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date by which the sexual health Model of Care will be completed; and whether it will include specific capacity targets, access standards, and reporting obligations for PrEP services. [36546/26]
View answer962. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department will publish annual national data on PrEP access, including provider numbers, waiting times, regional capacity, expenditure and unmet demand. [36547/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961 and 962 together.
Further to PQRef: 32899/26 and others of 06/05/2026, to which we provided a comprehensive response and to which the HSE are also responding, we can add the following information in respect of PQ36545/26 and others composited above.
We understand from HSE colleagues that excess demand of approximately 30% was estimated, prior to additional capacity coming on stream in Q3-4 2025. The training framework for GPs and other private providers has expanded the numbers of GPs and other primary care healthcare providers providing PrEP from 17 in late 2023, with more providers likely to complete training in the current year. Details of current providers, both public and private, can be accessed at: www2.hse.ie/conditions/hiv/where-to-get-prep/.
The HSE estimates that, following additional staffing in 4 public, Dublin region STI clinics and privately, through the training and recruitment of additional GPs, family planning and student health clinics to the PrEP scheme, that capacity in the wider Dublin region and, separately, in private services in many locations, has significantly improved. Work is ongoing to consolidate waiting list and unmet demand information on a nationwide and regional basis. However, while supply in some areas has improved, demographic increases are impacting on demand, so further assessment is required and will be progressed.
A Model of Care for sexual health is currently in development; plans are currently being drawn up as to how best to collate data across public STI services around geographical disparities and capacity issues. The data collation, as part of the Model of Care, is commencing and will be completed as outlined in the National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035.
In parallel, following a stakeholder consultation, the HIV Action Plan is being developed by an expert sub-Group working under the National Sexual Health Strategy Implementation Group. Many issues relating to HIV testing, diagnosis, treatment, care, information, stigma reduction, resourcing and research will be included in this Action Plan, including, but not limited to PrEP.
Within the scope of the Model of Care and/or the HIV Action Plan, matters such as national standards around waiting list data, access times for those clinically suitable for PrEP and other KPIs will be considered in more detail. The HSE is already working, as part of a wide group working on service KPIs, to expand on the numbers of sexual health related KPIs, many of which (e.g. numbers of people accessing PrEP, numbers of kits dispatched and percentages of reactive results under the free home STI testing service, use data and costs under the Free Contraception Scheme, numbers of condoms distributed under the National Condom Distribution Service etc.) are already reported to the Department on a quarterly basis.
It should also be noted that, in line with commitments in the NSHS, significant volumes of research are being undertaken in order to better understand need and access to sexual and reproductive health services in Ireland. For example, the Healthy Ireland Survey 2025 contained modules on menopause and HRT, and contraception. The NWCI last month published qualitative research examining marginalised women's access to contraception, and the findings of that report are being considered in terms of future planning.
The HSE, in partnership with the University of Galway, are working on delivering the Irish National Survey of Sexual Health (INISH). The Department is working with the University of Galway and with TCD and St. James's University Hospital, under the HRB's Evidence for Policy Programme, to investigate behavioural drivers of HIV and STI spread (SHIFT study, U of G), and to develop a hybrid model of PrEP delivery that has the potential to improve access (PrEPtimise). All of these sources of information will help to improve service delivery, looking forward.
Finally, it should be noted that, according to the National Census and CSO population estimates, our population has risen by over 820,000 people since 2015, and by over 530,000 since 2019, when the PrEP scheme was launched, with a significant proportion of that increase, driven by both natural increase and migration, occurring in the 17-50 age-ranges most likely to need a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including, but not limited to PrEP. We have an increasingly vibrant, dynamic and diverse society that is operating at full capacity and full employment. As noted in the NSHS, we are aware of these demographic changes and are working to expand capacity.
In terms of further detail on:
• patient registers;
• data collation for PrEP;
• national standards, HIV and PrEP treatment and supports;
• clinical standards concerning waiting times;
• methodology of quantifying geographic disparities;
• HSE/DoH reporting structures;
• Clinical capacity;
• Sexual Health Model of Care.
As the detail raised in these questions are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond directly and in more detail to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
