Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
190. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to further expand the free contraception scheme to people aged over 30 years; the steps he is taking to address the significant costs of contraceptives for some cohorts who are not eligible for the free scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7609/23]
View answerThe free contraception scheme for women aged 17 -25 was launched on 14th September, 2022, and expanded to include 26 year-olds on January 1st, 2023. The scheme is currently open to women aged 17-26 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland.
For eligible women, the free contraception scheme provides for:
The cost of consultations with GPs, family planning clinics and other relevant medical professionals to discuss contraceptive options with eligible patients and to provide prescriptions for these;
- The cost of prescription contraception, dispensed at local pharmacy of choice;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove LARCs (e.g. intrauterine devices (IUD), systems (IUS), coils and implants);
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which will also be available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs, the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
- Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted under the scheme will remain eligible for the subsequent checks and free removal of any devices that were inserted before their 27th birthday, in order to ensure continuity of care.
Funding has been provided in Budget 2023 for the scheme to be further expanded to include 27-30 year olds from September 1st, 2023.
Funding through Budget 2023 was also provided to expand the scheme to 16 year-olds also, but this is subject to consultation across Government, legal advice and legislative amendment. Approximately €32 million has been allocated to support the scheme in Budget 2023.
Since 14th September, 2022, over 2,200 GPs, primary care centres, family planning centres and student health clinics have signed contracts with the HSE to provide services under the scheme. Similarly, over 1,850 pharmacies are also participating in the scheme.
For women who are outside the current eligible age cohorts for the scheme, those with a medical card already have access to the same contraception options at minimal cost (subject only to the prescription charge), while those with a GP visit card are also supported to some extent, as the cost of GP consultations is covered. Furthermore, the Drugs Payment Scheme, for which anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland is eligible, covers the cost of prescription items, if these exceed the monthly limit, which is currently €80.
Any decisions regarding future expansion of the free contraception scheme is subject to the annual Estimates process and will require Government approval.
Information regarding the scheme is available through the HSE’s www.sexualwellbeing.ie website. This information is regularly updated and provides full details of how to access the scheme.
