Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
618. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the options paper developed by his Department in response to the report of the Oireachtas Health Committee on the Independent Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22832/24]
View answerThe final Report of the Review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Services) Act 2018, made a number of recommendations around increasing access to services.
Most of the recommendations are operational in nature, with some proposing legislative change. The Government asked the HSE to establish an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations.
Significant progress has already been made in this regard, for instance six additional hospitals started to provide termination services in 2023.
Termination services in early pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) are now provided in 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals, with the remaining two expected to come onboard in 2024.
There has also been a small but sustained increase in community providers, approximately an additional 20 in the last 12 months alone.
The proposals recommending legislative changes were referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration. The Joint Committee on Health submitted a report on the proposed legislative recommendations in December 2023, which was considered by me and my Department. Further consideration of this issue will take place at the Cabinet Committee on Health.
