Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1527. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of how the €710,000 funding in 2022 and €810,000 funding for 2023 for period products has been allocated, by sector (local authorities, schools, third level institutions, food banks, women's refuges, international protection applicants, Ukrainian refugees etc) and by organisation in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17085/23]
View answerFollowing the publication of a Plan International Survey in 2018, which found that 10% of teenage girls were significantly impacted by period poverty, Private Members’ Motions on the topic were passed in the Oireachtas and a sub-committee of the National Strategy for Women and Girls Strategy Committee was set up to consider the issue.
The resulting Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper was published in February, 2021 and can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/264f4-period-poverty-in-ireland-discussion-paper-period-poverty-sub-committee-national-strategy-for-women-and-girls-20172020-february-2021/.
The Department of Health has established an inter-Departmental Period Poverty Implementation Group (“IG”), with representation from most Government Departments, to achieve cross sectoral input and to co-ordinate oversight of implementation measures recommended by the Discussion Paper. The Group has now met on five occasions, most recently in March 2023. Various bilateral meetings have also been held between officials of this Department, other Government Departments, State agencies and NGOs and representatives of the Scottish Government.
The purpose of the IG is to implement the recommendations of the Discussion Paper; to improve access to period products for those who may need them, and to widen the knowledge base regarding the incidence and impacts of period poverty in Ireland.
It should be noted that the Department of Expenditure and Reform, who are represented on the IG, have indicated that the funding of implementation measures in each sector need to be funded separately via each Department’s Vote. Hence, measures in the Health sector are to be funded through the Health Vote, measures in the Education sector are to be funded through the Education Vote (for schools) or the DFHERIS Vote (for the further and higher education sector) and so on. The IG co-ordinates implementation across Government.
In terms of implementation under the Department of Health, the most urgent focus is on supporting those most in need (e.g., the homeless, those living with addiction, minorities including Travellers, Roma and refugees and those experiencing consistent poverty). Funding of €715,000 was allocated for this in Budget 2022 (€515,000 to Healthy Ireland Budget and €200,000 to the HSE). An additional €100,000 was allocated in 2023 to the HSE, bringing the total allocation for 2023 to €815,000.
The Department of Health and the HSE are progressing implementation of a period dignity support programme through HSE Social Inclusion, with a focus on Travellers and Roma; this commenced with a pilot programme in Community Health Organisation 5 (CHO5, based in the South-East) in 2022. Following initial positive results, the HSE extended similar supports to other CHOs in H2, 2022, with additional funding in 2023. Depending on the numbers of Travellers and Roma in each CHO, some are also widening provision out to other vulnerable groups, working with community organisations and facilities.
The Department has also funded 26 Local Authorities and 17 NGOs directly in 2022, including family resource centres and charities working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and/or consistent poverty directly, to progress period poverty mitigation projects. The allocations for 2022 are included in the attached files. Expressions of interest for 2023 were requested and service level agreements are currently being finalised with both local authorities and NGOs in order to provide funding for 2023.
