Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
704. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, following the success of his pilot scheme of free period products in further education/training centres, his Department has engaged with the Minister for Health on the rollout of free period products in universities and the wider third level sector. [17628/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of period products in publicly funded educational settings is a Programme for Government commitment.
My Department has been involved in a number of initiatives to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period indignity. These include the following:
- worked collaboratively with the Department of Health and the OGP on the development of a drawdown contract for the provision of period products in education establishments and other public institutions;
- in conjunction with the ETBs, development of a pilot called ‘Worryfree’ which was rolled out to nine further education and training colleges across six Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The pilot delivered free, sustainable period products and dispensers for students in participating ETBs;
- active participation on the Period Poverty Implementation Group chaired by the Department of Health
As the Deputy may be aware, Higher Education Institutions have also been working to ensure free period products are available on campus, such as ‘Code Red’ in MTU, ‘Any time of the month’ in University Limerick (UL), Brigit’s Basket in the National College of Ireland (NCI). The End Period Poverty campaign in UCD. DCU & Mary Immaculate College (MIC) also have similar initiatives currently running. DCU have also devised a postal service for students who are unable to access the products on campus.
I expect to be making an announcement on this matter shortly.
