Written Answers Nos. 153-174
153. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person in County Kerry (details supplied) is eligible for the TAMS grant as a young farmer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43554/24]
View answerApplicants in the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) in TAMS 3 must satisfy certain eligibility criteria to qualify for the 60% grant rate. These include the requirement that an applicant must have been issued with a herd number/other Department identifier for the first time within five years of the date of receipt of an application under the Scheme.
Department records indicate that the person named was issued with a herd number for the first time in 2014, which means that they are outside the five-year period to qualify as a young farmer.
The person named has applied, and received approval, for support under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) of TAMS 3. This will attract a 40% grant aid based on the lesser of my Department's reference costs and the actual receipted costs of the completed investment.
154. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a disability services project in County Cork (details supplied) can draw down funding for the costs associated with the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43351/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
155. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the implications of the proposed banning and regulation of non-disclosure agreements in employment contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43393/24]
View answerIn July 2024, I published the General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024 [www.gov.ie/en/publication/b1ba2-general-scheme-maternity-protection-amendment-and-miscellaneous-provisions-bill-2024/ ]. Head 8 of that General Scheme proposed to regulate the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) related to allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or victimisation.
Today, 23 October, I am bringing forward Committee Stage Amendments to the Maternity Protection Bill 2024 [www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2024/77/], which is now before Dail Éireann. These amendments include provisions related to NDAs, based on Head 8 of the General Scheme.
It is proposed that amendments be made to the Equality Employment Acts 1998-2015 to provide that an employer shall not enter into a non-disclosure agreement with an employee where the employee has made allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or victimisation, unless it has been requested by the employee. This is intended to address the power imbalance that often occurs between employee and employer with regard to such NDAs, or where employees may feel pressured to enter into such an agreement.
In order for an NDA to be enforceable, the proposed amendment lists a number of criteria that must be fulfilled, including that the employee must be provided with legal advice, at the expense of the employer. The proposal also includes a list of excepted professions to whom a disclosure can be made, and further allows for the inclusion of named individuals or classes of individuals to whom such disclosures would also be allowed.
Overall, it is intended that these proposals will provide protection for employees who might otherwise feel pressurised into entering NDAs. I have heard anecdotal stories of employees who have regretted signing such NDAs and who remain fearful years later, because of confusion about what they are entitled to disclose, and to whom. My intention is to prevent such cases arising in the future, and to ensure that nobody is pressurised into such agreements.
156. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline how the proposed legislation on the preservation of private records will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43394/24]
View answerThis proposed legislation, which I am bringing forward as Committee Stage Amendments to the Maternity Protection Bill, provides for the preservation of defined categories of records held by private actors, so that they are preserved in the public interest.
The private actors would include anyone who holds records relating to Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Magdalen laundries, industrial schools and reformatories, and orphanages, as well as the bodies who ran or oversaw these institutions. It also includes records relating to those who were involved in placing people for adoption, into a care arrangement, into an institution, or with the persons who assumed the role of parents to them, in the case of illegal birth registration.
It would place an obligation on any private holder of a relevant record to preserve it, making it an offence to destroy, mutilate, falsify, or fail to maintain relevant records, or to export them from the State.
The legislation also provides that the Director of the National Archives may direct a person or body to provide a statement outlining the relevant records in their possession. The inclusion of this provision will increase the ability of the State to assess the level and type of records that exist in private hands and inform any potential future legislative measures in the area of mandating deposit of records or copies of records.
This legislation has been called for by survivors and former residents, affected persons, their families and advocates, who want to ensure that records, which support understanding of their identity and the institutional systems which shaped their life experiences in such significant ways, are preserved.
157. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children awaiting an assessment of need in CHO 5; to provide the details in increments of three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43408/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
158. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children awaiting an assessment of need in CHO 3; to provide the details in increments of three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43409/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
159. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the urgent steps being taken to address the disproportionate disability employment gap in Ireland as compared with all EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43212/24]
View answerGovernment acknowledges that the employment gap for disabled people in Ireland is stubbornly and unacceptably high. Government policy is to continually increase the number of people with disabilities in employment and while there is more to be done, progress has been made to ensure that disabled people are supported to pursue meaningful careers in their chosen fields.
The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (2015-2024) is the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland, and has provided a whole of government framework to address barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities. Under the CES, a commitment was enshrined in legislation to increase the proportion of disabled persons employed in the public sector from 3% to 6% by 2025, thereby increasing opportunities for disabled people to participate and thrive in public service.
Alongside legislative commitments, efforts to support disabled people to access employment are being actioned in initiatives across government, reflecting the fact that this issue can only be comprehensively addressed with coordinated and ambitious action across departments and public bodies, and in partnership with employers.
The Department of Social Protection's EmployAbility service delivers employment supports for both employers and employees, including grants, advice and information, as well as a professional job-matching service to help ensure successful recruitment. Meanwhile, the Workability programme funds local, regional and national projects that provide progressive pathways into employment (including self-employment). The programme has an overall budget of over €36million and aims to support over 13,000 disabled people progress their training and employment ambitions over its lifetime and will be delivered by 56 local and community organisations nationwide.
Other initiatives include the Work and Access Scheme, launched by my colleague Minister Humphreys in July 2024. Replacing the Reasonable Accommodations Fund, this is a new Employment Programme aimed at removing barriers that disabled people may face in the workplace. It offers a range of supports including workplace needs assessments and adaptations, in-work support, equipment and disability training.
Within my own Department funding is provided for the Employers for Change programme, which seeks to provide employers with all the information and advice needed to hire, employ, manage and retain staff with disabilities. Funding is also provided for the Towards Work programme which seeks to provide pre-activation supports for disabled people.
Finally, my Department is leading across government on the development of a new National Disability Strategy. This will be an ambitious Strategy, seeking to take transformative action across a range of areas to ensure that disabled people are empowered to live full lives of their own choosing and to avail of opportunities to excel. Employment will be a cornerstone of this new Strategy and will include actions aimed at enhancing employment opportunities and supports for disabled people.
160. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the planned legislation to preserve privately held records relating to Ireland’s institutional past will include financial records so that important information about money made from forced labour or the fees demanded from families of unjustly incarcerated women and children, or the forced export of children, is retained and available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43452/24]
View answerThis proposed legislation, which I am bringing forward as Committee Stage Amendments to the Maternity Protection Bill, provides for the preservation of defined categories of records held by private actors, so that they are preserved in the public interest.
The private actors would include anyone who holds records relating to Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Magdalen laundries, industrial schools and reformatories, and orphanages, as well as the bodies who ran or oversaw these institutions. It also includes records relating to those who were involved in placing people for adoption, into a care arrangement, into an institution, or with the persons who assumed the role of parents to them, in the case of illegal birth registration.
It would place an obligation on any private holder of a relevant record to preserve it, making it an offence to destroy, mutilate, falsify, or fail to maintain relevant records, or to export them from the State.
The term “relevant record” is used to describe the records covered by the legislation. It is a broad definition that comprises records relating to these private bodies at any period up to 31 December 1998. This includes, but is not limited to, records relating to: the establishment and management of an institution or relevant body; its finances, accounts and commercial activities; its administration, regulatory compliance activities and governance matters; and periodical accounts of activities, including “house annals”.
This will support people in gaining further information on the institutional systems which shaped their life experiences in such significant ways and will also help society as a whole to gain a deeper understanding of these systems, which existed in our country for so long.
161. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will extend the temporary accommodation provided to a family (details supplied). [43483/24]
View answerSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the duration of the Temporary Protection Directive.
My Department aims to ensure that our portfolio of accommodation meets the evolving needs of the State’s response to the Ukraine Crisis.
In recent months we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, decreases in those arriving who request accommodation from the State and greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from State accommodation.
As a result, my Department is currently seeking to consolidate and rationalise its BOTP accommodation portfolio to ensure greater compliance with standards and better value for money.
The relocation to which the Deputy refers, which was scheduled for 17th October, was paused for operational issues
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, subject to availability, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
BOTPS may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement, if eligible. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/e1f4b5-intreo-offices/?referrer=https://www.gov.ie/en/service/40cf48-find-your-local-intreo-office/
162. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount allocated to private autism assessors in Westmeath since the beginning of the Government's assessment of needs waiting list initiative; and the number of patients seen by Westmeath providers to date. [43546/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
163. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently on the waiting list for autism assessments in Westmeath. [43547/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
164. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently waiting for an assessment of need examination nationally; and the number of them in Westmeath. [43548/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
165. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that a ward will not close (details supplied). [43564/24]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
166. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a review sought by a Minister of State in his Department requested from the HSE regarding an individual (details supplied) has been received; if so, what action has been taken following receipt of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43573/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
167. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when he will introduce home help on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43565/24]
View answerImproving access to home support is a priority for the Government. The overall budget for home support in 2025 will be circa €838 million. This is the largest allocation ever for home support. That is an increase of over 70% when compared to the 2020 budget of €487m.
In Budget 2025, €121.9 million additional investment was secured for Home Support services. This means we will now be able to provide approximately 24 million home support hours in 2025.
The Programme for Government commitment to “introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high quality, regulated home care” requires focused effort across several different workstreams that are all contributing towards strengthening the statutory framework and improving the experiences of those receiving home support.
The Department of Health is progressing the development of a regulatory framework for home support providers. This will consist of primary legislation for the licensing of providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations, which set out minimum requirements, and HIQA national quality standards.
The first element that is being legislated for relates to the licensing and registration of home support providers. The Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill 2024 is at an advanced stage. In May 2024, the General Scheme was approved by Government. The Joint Committee for Health began pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme in June with a report published by them on 14 October 2024. My officials are currently reviewing the recommendations included in the Committee’s report. The General Scheme has now been referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for final drafting.
This Bill will provide for the regulation of the sector by HIQA. Final amendments have been made to draft regulations for home support providers following a public consultation and engagement with stakeholder groups. The Department has been working closely with HIQA, which has prepared draft quality standards that are expected to go out for public consultation Q4 2024.
As well as delivering on the legislative elements of this commitment, the Department is working to address the future financing of homecare, the reform of the model of service delivery and the breadth of issues relating to recruitment and retention in this sector; all in the context of unprecedented expansion of the State-funded home support service, nationally.
Over the last two years, extensive work has taken place within the Department of Health to progress the Programme for Government commitment, including but not limited to:
• Development of draft regulations, which were informed by a 6-week public consultation completed in August 2022. The consultation results were analysed and published, and have been incorporated in revisions to the draft regulations.
• Oversight of the pilot for testing of a reformed model of service for the delivery for homecare, which became fully operational in 4 Community Healthcare Organisations in this period. Evaluation of the pilot has been completed and reviewed.
• Ongoing engagement with the HSE on the continuing reform of the model of service delivery for home support. Funding has been provided for establishment of a National Home Support Office and the Head of Service, and a number of other posts have been recruited. The national rollout of interRAI as the new standard assessment tool for care-needs in the community is underway.
• Addressing the shortage of care workers in Ireland through establishing, in March 2022, a cross departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group. After extensive engagement and consultation, in September 2022, the group published a report containing 16 recommendations to address workforce challenges. Implementation is being overseen by a cross-departmental Implementation Group, chaired by the Department of Health.
• Extensive engagement with the HSE and DPENDR on the establishment of the HSE home support tender in 2023, ensuring that it delivers on commitments for sectoral reform such as payment for travel time for home support providers, paying carers the National Living Wage at a minimum, and bringing legacy rates in line with the new revised rates of funding.
• Liaising with the DETE on bringing forward a statutory instrument authorising the issuance of 1,500 employment permits for home support workers.
• Commissioning multiple reports on potential demand, costs and charging models for home support, from the ESRI and the European Observatory on Health Systems. This research is being examined, as it forms an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population.
• Expanding access to home support services through securing significant increases in funding through annual Estimates processes.
168. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of the setting up and annual running costs of the new Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority to support assisted human reproduction, including IVF and surrogacy. [43295/24]
View answerThe Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law on 02 July 2024. This complex and far-reaching legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction. The primary purpose of the legislation is to ensure that assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices and related areas of research are conducted in a consistent and standardised way and with the necessary regulatory oversight. The legislation as enacted also provides for the regulation of future surrogacy arrangements undertaken by Irish residents in other jurisdictions. In addition, the legislation allows for the recognition of parentage arising from certain past domestic and international surrogacy arrangements.
The provision of AHR services has, until now, been largely unregulated, which means that individuals are availing of often complex and sometimes risky procedures in a legal vacuum. This legal vacuum has significant consequences not only for couples and individuals using AHR treatments and services, but also for the fertility clinics themselves and for the general public who have a legitimate expectation that all AHR practices and embryo-based research is regulated and carefully monitored.
The Act provides for the establishment of a new regulatory authority, the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), and the appointment of a board and a chief executive officer (CEO). The AHRRA will be the agency specifically responsible for the oversight and regulation of AHR practices and associated research activities. The role of the new Authority will be key to embedding safe and appropriate clinical AHR practices in Ireland.
Intensive work is ongoing in my Department in relation to the commencement of relevant provisions of the Act and the establishment of the Authority. This includes consideration of the range of functions and the staffing and other requirements necessary to fulfil the statutory remit prescribed for the AHRRA in the Act. This is a complex piece of work and while I expect that the Authority will be established during 2025, it isn’t possible, at this time, to provide an estimate of the full-year costs that will arise when the AHRRA is fully up and running.
169. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of building the new national maternity hospital. [43296/24]
View answerIn July 2023, Cabinet gave its approval for the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at Elm Park, to be co-located with St Vincent’s University Hospital, to proceed to tender for a main contractor to construct the new hospital.
The main tender process, which began in September 2023, is programmed to run over a period of c.18 months. The steps in this process include:
• Contractor pre-qualification process which started in September 2023.
• Tender issue to the pre-qualified contractors which started in April 2024,
• Receipt of tender responses. These responses are scheduled for return end Q4 2024.
• Evaluation of returned tenders in line with the award criteria.
• Updating of the final business case to incorporate market responses.
• Government consent to proceed to sign contracts.
After the procurement process is complete, and prior to contract award, the updated Final Business case will be brought to Government.
In parallel to the tender and procurement process, in order to construct the proposed NMH as a single-phase development, a number of buildings are required to be completed in advance of the commencement of the main NMH works. These further enabling and wider campus resilience works commenced in December 2023 and it is expected that they will be completed by mid-2025 in parallel with the seeking of Government consent to proceed to sign contracts.
The projected capital cost to the exchequer for this project in 2024 is 10,506,531 (Ex. VAT).
170. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of the full roll-out of electronic health records across the health service. [43297/24]
View answerThe ‘Digital for Care’ strategic framework published in 2024, sets out a clear ambition to put in place digital health records for all citizens in Ireland and proposed a 3 step approach for how these will be delivered.
By the end of the year the HSE will launch a Patient App that provides people with access to some of their health information and data that is already available. The functionality of the Patient App will be expanded over the course of 2025. Following the conclusion of a tender process currently underway, in 2025 the HSE will then start to build a national shared care record to collate patient data from digital systems in the acute and community healthcare sector. In parallel, the HSE has begun to plan for the third step that involves the delivery of enterprise Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. This will be procured once but deployed on a regional basis given the scale and complexity involved, and will take on learnings from the HSE’s deployment of EHRs to date and from other justifications who are deploying or have recently deployed EHRs.
As the delivery of electronic health records is clearly a long term, multi-annual programme, actual costs will not be known until procurements are complete, however the Minister recently indicated that the deployment cost of enterprise EHR systems is likely to be between €250m and €300m per region. Separately the HSE will continue to invest in the underlying technical ICT infrastructure to support EHRs, all clinical and non-clinical systems, and continue to build cyber resilience, etc.
171. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of the existing RSV immunisation programme; the age groups recommended by NIAC-HIQA; and the additional annual cost of expanding the RSV immunisation programme to all babies aged one year and under. [43298/24]
View answerAn infant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunisation Pathfinder Programme will run between September 2024 and February 2025. All newborn infants born during the programme will be offered immunisation against RSV after birth on site in Irish maternity hospitals. This immunisation will protect newborn infants when they are most vulnerable to the complications of RSV during the winter period when infection rates are at their highest.
As well as protecting newborn infants, this programme will help maintain health service capacity during this coming winter season. The programme is based on NIAC advice and is a temporary programme put in place as an interim measure pending the outcome of a Health Technology Assessment on RSV immunisation for infants and adults currently being undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
The outcome of the HTA, and learnings from the pathfinder programme once complete, will inform the development of any longer-term programme and future decision making on the matter of RSV immunisation in Ireland.
The NIAC advice in relation to RSV immunisation is as follows:
• Use of nirsevimab for all infants born during the 2024/25 RSV season. NIAC advised that infants should receive nirsevimab ideally prior to discharge home from a maternity hospital.
• The passive immunisation with nirsevimab of the following groups: all high-risk infants aged 12 months at the start of their first RSV season and all infants who are aged 6 months at the start of the RSV season should receive nirsevimab prior to the start of the RSV season.
In relation to the estimated full-year cost of the existing RSV immunisation programme, HIQA's Rapid HTA on RSV immunisation, published on 13th of August 2024, found that the cost of immunising infants could be expected to range from €3.9 million to €19 million, depending on the approach taken. The HTA also found that aside from the cost of providing immunisation, there would also be additional costs associated with organising any RSV immunisation programme, which HIQA estimated could cost approximately €2.3 million.
172. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health to list all publicly funded hospitals that do not offer free public car parking or have a cap of €10 or less per day; [43299/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
173. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of fully implementing the recommendations of the National Taskforce on the Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor. [43300/24]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
174. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of funding the extension of free contraception to all women; and the age groups to which this would apply. [43301/24]
View answerThe free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date. The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary, who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and for whom prescription contraception is deemed suitable by their doctors.
The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, primary care, student health and family planning centres and prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the HSE Re-Imbursement List, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs: injections, intra-uterine devices and systems (coils) and implants) and emergency contraception in addition to the contraceptive Pill, patch and ring. LARC fittings, removals, injections and check-ups are also free of charge under the scheme.
Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted while eligible under the scheme remain eligible for subsequent checks and free removal of any devices inserted prior to reaching the eligibility limit (currently their 36th birthday), to ensure continuity of care.
It is estimated that expanding the scheme from 36-40 would cost €8m and above the age of 40, costs are approximated at €1m per year age-cohort. The total cost of full expansion is therefore estimated at €23m
The Minister has stated that he is committed to the gradual expansion of the free contraception scheme up to and including the age of 55 (after which, prescription of contraception is not typically clinically recommended). There is no public health based reason to limit the age-range that can access the scheme, rather, its phased introduction was undertaken for a number of reasons, as follows:
• A phased approach permits additional training in line with service expansion, allowing time for more medical and other relevant healthcare professionals to be trained to fit, check and remove long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). The demand for LARCs may rise with age.
• The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception noted risks regarding the number of GPs qualified to undertake these procedures in 2019, versus likely demand once cost barriers were removed.
• A training scheme was funded and is underway, managed by the ICGP, which is increasing the numbers of GPs with the expertise to fit, check and remove coils and implants. It is anticipated that demand for coils and implants will be higher in older age cohorts.
• The National Women and Infants Health Programme are also putting additional training in place for healthcare professionals working in maternity and gynaecology services and in the SATUs.
• Budgetary and financial planning guidelines recommend that demand-led schemes, such as the free contraception scheme, should be subject to pilot testing and/or phased implementation, in order to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme and real-world costs.
• As per the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception (published in 2019 and available on the Department’s website), it was decided to commence the scheme with younger age cohorts, as they are most likely to experience unplanned pregnancy and least likely to be financially independent. A significant number of people in the 17-25 age cohort are still in full time education and dependent on parents and guardians for income, some of whom may not be willing (or, indeed, in some cases, able) to fund prescription contraception.
It is important to note that prescription contraception, while being very effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy, does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The National Condom Distribution Scheme supports both STI prevention and accessible contraception. Free condoms can be accessed through the national network of STI clinics, participating charities and NGO partners and on participating 3rd level campuses. Since 2023, free condoms have also been supplied with orders for free home STI testing kits.
