Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 2

Written Answers. - Health Information.

Dick Spring

Question:

143 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that the parents of the majority of children currently living in poverty are single women or victims of generational poverty and/or long term unemployment, he will outline his views on the feasibility of offering information regarding contraception as an optional part of the paperwork involved in collecting long term unemployment benefits.

Dick Spring

Question:

144 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that those people who are victims of generational poverty and/or long term unemployment have increased potential for entering high risk groups with regard to the HIV virus, he will outline his views on the feasibility of offering information regarding the HIV virus as an optional part of the paperwork involved in collecting long term unemployment benefits.

Dick Spring

Question:

145 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the reforms, if any, he plans to encourage in the current means of access to (1) information on the HIV virus and (2) information on family planning, particularly in outlying areas and the inner cities; and if he will publish a timetable for the implementation of these reforms.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 145 together.

In consultation with my colleague the Minister for Social Welfare I will arrange to have copies of my Department's Health Promotion Unit's leaflet AIDS The Facts distributed to all employment exchanges and branch employment offices in the near future.

As part of my Department's comprehensive AIDS education strategy the Health Promotion Unit has already distributed almost 400,000 copies of this information leaflet on AIDS. The leaflet has been distributed to pharmacies, health centres, voluntary agencies working in the AIDS area and directly to members of the public. It is generally regarded as an accessible, credible and readable document which gives down-to-earth basic information in a straightforward manner.

In relation to information on contraception the Deputy will be aware that the Health (Family Planning Amendment) Bill, 1991 is due to be considered by the House during the current session. Following discussion and consideration of the various issues with regard to contraception in that context I will be reviewing the question of the availability of information on the matter.