The HSE has spent €1.5m on sex-change operations for almost 50 patients.
Reports this morning say that at least 49 people underwent gender reassignment procedures abroad, funded by the HSE.
The surgery is not available in Ireland, but it can be arranged by the health service as part of the treatment abroad scheme.
The cost for the surgery is around €30,000 on average. The costs for female-to-male operations is significantly higher than for male-to-female surgery.