According to newly published report, the HSE spent almost €850,000 on gender reassignment surgeries in 2016.
The new report which was published under the Freedom of Information act shows that twenty eight Irish residents were given €845,600 in funding to go abroad in order to change their gender.
The report states that 6 of the 28 people underwent a complete sex-change operation, whilst the remaining 22 people filled papers and underwent the consultation process to change their gender.
Under current state laws gender reassignment surgery cannot be performed here, although the procedure can receive funding from HSE’s treatment abroad scheme.
The HSE say even though the outlay was quite costly there were a number of factors contributed to spiralling costs including female to male procedures which are considered more expensive, along with routine hormonal treatments.