Duncan Smith
Ceist:2040. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the provision of free sanitary products such as tampons and pads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (2040)
Freagraí scríofa
This Government is committed to the introduction of measures to address period poverty, evidenced by the commitment made in the Programme for Government and by the actions taken more recently to progress the issue.
The 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/
Government has agreed that the recommendations of the Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper be taken into account and that cross-Government, inter-Departmental, interagency and societal support for implementation measures should be sought, including from voluntary and private sector organisations that provide services funded by the State, as well as from public service providers.
The recommendations of the Report include, but are not limited to, consideration of the provision of free period products in public buildings, through publicly funded services and in the context of education.
My Department has established a Period Poverty Implementation Group, with representation from most Government Departments, to achieve cross sectoral input and to co-ordinate oversight of implementation measures recommended in the Discussion Paper. It is envisaged that the work of the Group will address the indignity experienced by those who may need period products every month but cannot afford them.
The Period Poverty IG has now met on three occasions, in July and November, 2021, and in March, 2022. Various bilateral meetings have also been held between officials of this Department, other Government Departments, State agencies and NGOs.
In terms of implementation, the most urgent focus is on supporting those most in need (e.g., the homeless, those living with addiction, minorities including Travellers and Roma, and those experiencing consistent poverty). Funding of €0.71m was allocated for this in Budget 2022.
My Department has reached out to local authorities and to the NGO sector, seeking expressions of interest regarding projects that will improve access to period products.
To date, 26 Local Authorities have been funded to progress period poverty initiatives; initial progress reports are currently being returned. 13 NGOs working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and/or food poverty have been similarly funded; progress reports for NGO projects will be sought in Q4.
My Department and the HSE are also progressing design and implementation of a period dignity support programme for Travellers and Roma in Community Health Organisation 5 (CHO5, based in the South-East); following initial positive results, the HSE are reaching out to offer additional supports to other CHOs in Q3-4.
Not all women in Ireland are at risk of period poverty - estimates would suggest that those in high-risk categories number approximately 85,000. However, these estimates, published in detail in the Period Poverty In Ireland Discussion Paper, may need further refinement in terms of data from representative Surveys.
Period poverty related questions and modules are included in the 2022 Healthy Ireland and Health Behaviours in School Aged Children Surveys, which will be published later this year and in late 2023 respectively. Once results from these are available, it will be possible to estimate need with much greater accuracy.
Meanwhile, the initial projects funded by the Department of Health and HSE, and by other Departmental members of the Period Poverty Implementation Group will provide reporting regarding the costs of provision at local level.
In summary, current estimates, based on the number of estimated women in need (85,000) and the CSO's 2020 cost estimates regarding the cost of period products per woman per annum (€96.72) would suggest that the annual cost of provision may be €8.2m approximately. However, this is a very rough estimate; the 2020 estimated CSO costs don’t take account of significant recent inflation.
A number of additional sources of information will be required to refine previous estimates. These include:
- Census 2022 results
- Results of the Healthy Ireland Survey and HBSC, 2022
- 2022 reporting from local authorities, HSE and NGOs
- 2022 reporting from wider pilot schemes being undertaken by other members of the Period Poverty Implementation Group.
Work on this is ongoing and we envisage being able to provide more accurate information in 2023.