Abortion Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024

Tuesday, 20 February 2024

Questions (564)

Michael Collins

Question:

564. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on the roll-out of abortion provision in the eight remaining hospitals that he said would be performing abortions by early 2024; the number of people appointed to positions to ensure abortion provision could begin in these hospitals; the various positions people were appointed to, including obstetricians, nursing staff et cetera; the cost of these hirings and any other administrative or capital costs incurred in the roll-out of abortion provision in these facilities; any additional expenditure earmarked to be spent to complete the roll-out in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7665/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It is Government policy that termination services, under the 2018 Act, should be provided in all 19 maternity hospitals.

Currently 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals are providing full termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act, which includes termination in early pregnancy (i.e. under 12 weeks). These hospitals are listed on the HSE website: www2.hse.ie/conditions/abortion/how-to-get/in-hospital/.

In the remaining 2 sites, the introduction of the service is dependent on the recruitment of additional consultant obstetrician gynaecologists, which is progressing, as is the establishment of the appropriate referral and care pathways within those hospitals.

The HSE envisages that termination services in early pregnancy will commence in the last two hospital sites in 2024.

As this is also service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.