MEMBERS of the transgender community in Limerick will march this weekend over what they describe as “the dire state of trans healthcare in Ireland”.
Marchers will form part of the wider Trans Pride parade, taking place this Saturday.
It has been over 10 years since the government passed the Gender Recognition Act, giving trans people full legal recognition of their gender and providing them new birth certificates to reflect the change.
The Act allows for adults over 18 to self-declare their own gender identity – excluding intersex and non-binary people. Transgender people aged 16 and 17 can also apply to the courts for a legal gender change.
Department of Social Protection figures for 2023 show 354 applications received under the Act, the highest number in any one year in Ireland.
People who come out as transgender may seek gender-affirming treatment or care, including medical and social interventions aimed at aligning one’s physical characteristics with their gender identity. This can include hormone therapy, surgery, and mental health support.
Despite these changes, 10 years on, urgent reform of the healthcare system is being sought to provide free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender women.
There is currently confusion around whether trans women are eligible to receive free HRT, as other women in some circumstances are.
Under a measure announced in Budget 2025, the cost of HRT for women in some circumstances (such as menopause) is covered by the State.
HRT can also be prescribed for gender-affirming care, but reports to this newspaper suggest access to the free scheme vary depending on the pharmacy an individual attends.
Limerick transgender woman Eleanor Brosnan told this newspaper that while she is currently receiving HRT, she is not eligible under the free scheme.
“It’s been a major failure and it feels like the system used is purposely designed to be slow and essentially disenfranchise you before you even start treatment,” she said, describing the process as “a big drain on my bank account”.
This confusion has also spread to pharmacies across Limerick and the rest of the country.
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) told the Limerick Post it is seeking clarity from the Department of Health on the matter.
Rebecca Barry, pharmacist at CarePlus Pharmacy in Adare, says the lack of clarity from the government has made what should be a simple process “very, very complex”.
The pharmacist explained that some HRT medicines are available to women under 35 as contraceptives, and some to women for menopausal reasons. At the same time, she said, women in other circumstances, such as those between 35 and menopause, aren’t covered by the scheme, which can lead to confusion for both patients and pharmacists alike.
Rebecca said after a person is prescribed HRT by their GP, pharmacists do not receive any information on the reason for the treatment’s prescription.
“It is up to the pharmacist to establish with the patient whether it’s for menopausal reasons, contraception, or for some other reason, like transgender women using it for hormonal change,” she says.
“I’m on pharmacist discussion groups and this question is coming up time and time and time again. The answer is always that we need clarity from the HSE.”
Trans Pride Limerick will take to the streets this weekend to highlight their concerns about healthcare for trans people, but also to celebrate the trans community at large and offer support to others.
The group will gather on Bedford Row from 5pm, where there will be speeches, a public demonstration, and musical performances.
