Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
1315. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has undertaken any national capacity assessment of the public pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme since 2024; and if so, if she will provide details of the findings, including identified service gaps, unmet demand, regional pressures and recommended expansion measures. [39272/26]
View answer1316. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting access to public PrEP services, by clinic and by HSE health region; and whether this figure includes informal, paused or closed waiting lists. [39273/26]
View answer1318. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any risk assessment has been undertaken regarding individuals sourcing PrEP medication privately from overseas due to inability to access the public system; and if she will provide details of any such assessment. [39275/26]
View answer1321. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health how many public PrEP clinics nationally are currently closed, fully or partially, to new self-referrals; the duration of each restriction; and the reasons cited for same. [39278/26]
View answer1322. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has considered establishing a temporary national bridging pathway or interim prescribing arrangement for persons unable to access public PrEP services due to capacity limitations. [39279/26]
View answer1323. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of approved private or GP PrEP providers currently operating nationally and by county; and whether the HSE has assessed the financial impact on patients required to access private consultations and testing due to lack of public capacity. [39280/26]
View answer1324. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether additional funding, staffing or clinic capacity has been allocated in 2026 to expand access to public PrEP services; and if she will provide a breakdown of same by region and service. [39281/26]
View answer1326. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national equality-of-access assessment has been undertaken regarding geographic disparities in access to PrEP services, particularly for persons outside Dublin or without access to private care options. [39287/26]
View answer1329. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health receives routine reporting on public PrEP service capacity, waiting times, referral refusals or clinic closures; and if not, whether she intends to introduce such reporting arrangements. [39290/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1315, 1316, 1318, 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1326 and 1329 together.
Further to previous PQs of 06/05/2026 and 18/05/2026, to which we provided comprehensive responses and to which the HSE are also responding, we can add the following information in respect of PQ39275/26 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: [https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/hiv/where-to-get-prep/].
Training programmes for GPs continue, with additional potential providers working towards inclusion in the programme.
Additional funding of €550,000, including 7WTE in staffing allocation in 2025 and an additional €100,000 in 2026 were provided at a national level for the PrEP programme recently. Allocations or service provision changes within individual regions are a matter for the HSE.
The HSE estimates that, following additional staffing in 4 public 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.
However, while supply in some regions has improved, demographic increases are impacting on demand, so further assessment is required and will be progressed. 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.
Revisions in WHO eligibility criteria have also resulted in increases in the numbers of people deemed eligible for PrEP and likely to benefit from it. In summary, 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 demographic change and are working to expand capacity where we can.
Work is ongoing to consolidate waiting list and unmet demand information on a nationwide and regional basis, which will feed into a Model of Care for sexual health, to be published later this year, pressures of work permitting.
In wider terms, with regard to access more generally, the Department recognises that, to work towards the goal of universal healthcare in line with Sláintecare commitments, more needs to be done. It is in this context that the Department has commenced a long-term Strategic Review of the Eligibility Framework, Phase 1 of which includes a review of the existing eligibility arrangements for health services to see how they align with current population needs. The Review includes within its scope, the commitments in the Programme for Government and National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-35 pertaining to sexual and reproductive health services, including, but not limited to PrEP.
In terms of further detail on:
• Risk assessments for medicines sourced abroad.
• National capacity assessments.
• Temporary service gaps and closures .
• unmet demand, including by region and clinic.
• temporary bridging prescriptions or other access measures.
• HSE/DoH reporting structures.
• Equality of access assessments.
• Additional funding, staffing or clinic capacity changes.
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.
