Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify Government policy in relation to tackling period poverty; if they are supporting the passing of the legislation currently at Seanad Committee stage; if they intend to provide free products at secondary levels as well as third levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7486/23]
View answerPeriod poverty is a priority for this Government, which has supported the roll-out of period dignity measures in Budgets 2022 and 2023.
The Department of Health and HSE were allocated €714,000 in 2022 and €814,000 in 2023, to support Local Authorities, NGOs, charities and other locally based organisations to place products in public buildings and facilities and to provide supports to those most at risk; minorities including Travellers and Roma, and those living with addiction, homelessness and/or disadvantage.
The Department of Health also chairs an inter-Departmental Period Poverty Implementation Group, with representation from most Government Departments, to co-ordinate implementation of period dignity measures across Government. The most recent meeting of the Group was in December, 2022.
The funding of period poverty measures in each sector is a matter for the relevant Government Department. Provision in the education sector is therefore a matter for the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, respectively. Both are represented on the Period Poverty Implementation Group.
The Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021 is at Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann. The Government has committed to supporting the Bill and the recommendations of the Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper. Progression of the Bill is subject to further information arising from the current supports that have been rolled out in 2022. Firstly, more accurate estimates of the cost in each sector are needed and data from initial rollout of supports in each sector will inform this, once available. Secondly, engagement with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is ongoing regarding the development of a Government procurement framework that includes period products and dispensers by the OGP. The Framework is expected be in place by the summer of 2023. Thirdly, once the data from 2022 reporting is available and analysed in order to inform costs, these will need to be submitted to Government through the annual Estimates process leading to Budget 2024.
