Each health board is obliged to ensure that an equitable, accessible and comprehensive family planning service is provided in its area. The Department issued guidelines to the health boards in 1995 on the provision of family planning services to all persons in their areas who need such services. These services are provided primarily through general practitioners, non-governmental organisations and, to some extent, maternity hospitals or maternity units. Significant additional funding of €5.73 million was provided for the development of family planning and pregnancy counselling services between 1999 and 2002.
I am advised that in August 2000, the Northern Area Health Board, in partnership with the Irish Family Planning Association, initiated a family planning/women's health service at the Irish Family Planning Association's premises in Cathal Brugha Street. The services provided are complementary to those available to medical card holders through their own general practitioners and they are intended to provide an element of choice for medical card holders in the area of reproductive health.