Nearly 150 have gender recognised under Gender Recognition Act

The Gender Recognition Act 2015 has allowed 149 transgender people to have their preferred gender legally recognised.

The Act, passed last July and commenced in September, allows over-18s to decide their own gender identity, without requirement of backing from a medical professional.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar issued 149 gender recognition certifications between September 2015 and the end of June 2016.

The legislation requires that State bodies accept the chosen gender of a trans person, for all purposes including marriage.

Ireland is only the fourth country in the world and the third in Europe - after Denmark and Malta - to recognise self-declared genders without the need for any surgical intervention.

Despite being widely welcomed, the Act was also criticised for requiring 16- and 17-year-olds to undergo medical observation and receive both parental permission and a court order before being able to self-declare their gender. The Act does not include any under-16s.

These provisions are due for review in two years.