More people applied to change the legal-designation of their sex in 2023 than any year since gender self-ID first came into effect a decade ago, according to figures just obtained by the Irish Independent. When enacted, it was one of the most radical laws of its kind in the world and is still more radical than most Western countries because it assigns a ‘new’ sex based purely on self-identification, even if it be entirely different from one’s biological sex.

Under the 2015 law, anyone over the age of 18 can apply for a “Gender Recognition Certificate” to change their legal identity from male to female or vice-versa.

No other type of “preferred” gender is currently possible. The change can be made without any accompanying surgical or hormonal interventions. When a certificate is granted, the person can apply for a new birth cert, passport and driving licence that reflects their ‘new sex’.

Young people aged 16 or 17 can also apply to change the legal identity of their sex, if they get a court order.

In 2023, the department received 354 applications under the Gender Recognition Act. Four of these were from people aged 16 or 17. Under 18s must gain permission from their parents to apply under the law.

This surpassed the previous record of 319 applications in 2022 and 195 in 2021.

There were 341 applications granted in 2023, including three for people under the age of 18. Gender recognition certificates granted in 2023 may have been applied for in previous years.