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Healthcare Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2022

Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Questions (501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

501. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the date that has been selected for the implementation of the free contraception scheme, starting with 17 to 25-year-olds, that was announced in Budget 2022; if a delay is expected in relation to the implementation of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22044/22]

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Seán Sherlock

Question:

502. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he intends to enable the roll-out of the free contraception scheme, starting with the 17 to 25 age cohort, through new legislation or through regulation; when he intends to bring forward proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22045/22]

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Seán Sherlock

Question:

503. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that capacity and planning is such that maximum choice in contraception type will be available to all those who qualify for the free contraception scheme at the commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22046/22]

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Seán Sherlock

Question:

504. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of times that the contraception implementation group has met since January 2022; the consultations that have taken place with relevant stakeholders on necessary legislative change, budgetary, eligibility, contract negotiations, training and accreditation and other relevant matters relating to the introduction of the free contraception scheme announced in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22047/22]

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Seán Sherlock

Question:

505. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the negotiations that have taken place to date in 2022 with representative bodies regarding inclusion of contraception in relevant service contracts, regulations and guidelines, following the announcement of the free contraception provision in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22048/22]

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Seán Sherlock

Question:

506. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the design of information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll-out of the free contraception scheme announced in Budget 2022; if key resources have been allocated to this work in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22049/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 501, 502, 503, 504, 505 and 506 together.

The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception, which include accessibility, information, workforce capacity and, for a significant number of women who may be just above the eligibility threshold for a full GMS (medical) card, cost.

In consideration of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution (JOC8) and the findings of the Working Group on Contraception, the Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort .

In terms of planning for the implementation of this commitment, the Contraception Implementation Group was convened in July, 2021. The focus of the detailed work done to date by the Department's Contraception Implementation Group has been working towards ensuring that the scheme will commence in August 2022.

The Contraception Implementation Group meets on a monthly basis. To date, in 2022, meetings have been held in January, February, March and April. Members of the Group have also met with counterparts in various relevant Divisions of the HSE, and with other stakeholders, to ensure that progress is being made in terms of planning for implementation.

In terms of stakeholder consultations, it should also be noted that the recommendations of the JOC8 took into consideration the deliberations of the Citizen’s Assembly on the matter. The Working Group on Contraception held a number of meetings with key stakeholders as part of its research, prior to publication of the Report.

More recently, my Department has held consultations and listening exercises with a large range of stakeholders, as part of the wider work of the Women’s Health Taskforce and, separately, as part of wider work to review the National Sexual Health Strategy. Clear stakeholder feedback with regard to access to contraception is therefore duly taken into consideration in the development and progression of this scheme.

The contraception scheme was discussed at a recent meeting with medical representative organisations. Formal negotiations with the medical representative organisations and with those representing pharmacists will commence shortly.

Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated in Budget 2022 to enable commencement of the scheme, which is currently scheduled for August 2022. This includes an allocation for training and certification for fitting, checks and removals of long-acting reversible contraception. The HSE is currently working on preparing to roll out these additional training supports in conjunction with the Irish College of General Practitioners.

The scheme will provide for:

1. The cost of prescription contraception;

2. The cost of necessary consultations with GPs and other doctors to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same;

3. The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;

4. The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;

5. Provision of the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders will also be available through this scheme, to include contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.

For items such as the contraceptive pill, these are typically prescribed at 6-month intervals. For LARCs, (e.g. IUS, IUD, implants, injections, patches and rings), where the fittings/injections are carried out by healthcare professionals, fitting and removal appointments are also provided for separately, in addition to the consultations.

The scheme will be open to all 17-25 year-olds ordinarily resident in Ireland. Patients will be eligible to avail of the scheme from their 17th birthday until the day prior to their 26th birthday.

Work on the legislative framework for the scheme is ongoing, with the scheme to implemented by way of Regulations. The design of citizen engagement information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll out of the scheme will be finalised in the coming months, to be rolled in the month preceding and during the initial phase of scheme roll-out.

Question No. 502 answered with Question No. 501.
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