3679. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a HIV Action Plan; the timeline for publication; if she intends to provide sustainable funding for the voluntary sector under this plan, which is essential for delivering peer support, outreach and anti-stigma initiatives that clinical services alone cannot provide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57378/26]

Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health.

The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035 (NSHS) and National Sexual Health Action Plan, 2025-2028, were published in June 2025. Implementation structures have been finalised and are operational. The NSHS includes a clear focus on prevention; testing, diagnosis, treatment, information and surveillance for STIs and HIV, and on reducing both HIV associated stigma and that associated with sexual and reproductive health more generally.

The new National Sexual Health Strategy acknowledges the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age. The Strategy also supports positive sexual health and information and the prevention of adverse sexual health outcomes.

The Strategy takes an evidenced based approach, supported by structured stakeholder engagement. These mechanisms are built into the strategy to ensure that we remain fully informed of evolving priorities in sexual health and will be able to include additional actions in subsequent Sexual Health Action Plans; there will be two more developed in 2029 and 2032 to manage implementation for the final two thirds of the Strategy's term.

The Programme for Government has committed to “Intensify our efforts by developing an HIV Action Plan to eliminate new HIV transmissions by 2030 and provide support for people living with HIV”, and this has been included as an action in the NSHS 2025-2035 and National Sexual Health Action Plan also.

Work has commenced on the HIV Action Plan with an initial stakeholder consultation completed and responses being analysed. The HSE and key community partners have also set up regional fora to consider matters to be included in the Action Plan, from the perspectives of those at risk of and living with HIV. Analysis is due to be completed in Q3 with next steps to follow.

The HSE, through the Sexual Health Programme and/or National Social Inclusion Office, already provide funding to a number of community partners supporting people at risk of, and living with HIV, and working on information, peer-supports, anti-stigma initiatives and outreach, amongst other things. As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy with more detail, as soon as possible.