Written Answers. - Pregnancy Counselling Services.
Deirdre Clune
Question:
258
Ms Clune
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if, further to Parliamentary Question no. 289 of 17 October 2000, he will provide details of the expenditure of the £1.6 million provided to health boards for the development of planning and pregnancy counselling services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25478/00]
The Government is committed to the continued development of family planning and pregnancy counselling services. In this regard additional funding of £1.6 million in 2000 has been provided to the health boards. Boards have been asked, when developing policy, to concentrate on measures aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancies in the 15-34 age group.
The principles which should underlie such developments are that services should be access ible to young people and should seek to meet their needs in relation to issues such as confidentiality and hours of operation. Boards' educational/promotional activities should focus on such issues as the need for responsible sexual behaviour of young people at risk, increased awareness of pregnancy counselling services and the cultivation of more responsible attitudes to alcohol, with particular regard to alcohol and sexual activity.
The funding allocated to each health board and the principal initiatives being undertaken are as follows:
Eastern Regional Health Authority – £627,000
Owing to an industrial dispute at present the Authority was not in a position to provide information in response to the question.
Midland Health Board – £85,000
Enhancement of family planning services in general practice.
Initiation of vasectomy service in general practice.
Appointment of a Health Education Officer for young people.
Mid-Western Health Board – £134,000
Educational initiatives for teenage girls have been established which aim to raise self-esteem, confidence and the ability to make informed choices within relationships;
Resource packs have been developed for Women's Health groups;
Production of educational material on sexual health;
The establishment of a Sexual Health centre to complement existing services is planned;
North-Eastern Health Board – £128,000
Provision of Out of Hours family planning services though a general practice co-op.
Provision of vasectomy services by two general practitioners free of charge to GMS patients.
Employment of a youth development officer with a special interest in family planning/pregnancy counselling services.
North-Western Health Board – £85,000
Provision of funding for general practitioner women's health clinics and to voluntary groups involved in family planning and pregnancy counselling services.
Development of a sex education programme in conjunction with the National Youth Council.
South-Eastern Health Board – £163,000
A number of general practitioners have been contracted to provide additional family planning sessions.
Southern Health Board – £234,000
Development of a full-time adolescent sexual health and pregnancy counselling team;
Provision of grants to voluntary pregnancy counselling agencies.
Western Health Board – £144,000
Development of a teenage health initiative, aimed in particular at those known to be in a cohort of high risk.
