The HSE has said it will continue to refer children with gender dysphoria to the Tavistock Clinic in the UK despite it being forced to close next year because of controversial practices such as giving children puberty blockers.

National Clinical Director for Integrated Care within the HSE Dr Siobhán Ni Bhriain said: “The service has not been deemed not safe, because if it was deemed completely unsafe it would have closed immediately, that’s the first thing.

“The second thing is the Tavistock will keep open for another year or so until the regional units are developed in the UK and increased numbers of people with the skills to deliver care to these children.

“So, we will continue to refer while Tavistock is still open, we will monitor extremely closely and we have for quite a number of years been exploring other options.”