Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
120. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the delivery of the programme for Government commitment to continue to extend access to free contraception; the work carried out to date; the timeline she is working towards in expanding the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17723/26]
View answerThe free contraception scheme (FCS) for women aged 17 -25, ordinarily resident in Ireland, was launched on 14th September, 2022. Its remit has been expanded gradually to include women aged from 17 to 35 inclusive. Approximately €47m is allocated to support the scheme annually and approximately 2,450 GPs, primary care, family planning and student health centres and 2,050 community pharmacies across the country participated in the scheme in 2025.
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 Reimbursement 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.
Access to free contraception is also available on an emergency basis through the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP), enabling maternity units, hospitals, postnatal clinics, and Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) to provide free contraception to patients who might have difficulty accessing the scheme through primary care.
These include individuals attending postnatal or post-termination of pregnancy (ToP) appointments, those accessing SATUs in emergency situations, and those facing barriers to accessing contraception through GPs and pharmacies or who may face other challenges that limit access through primary care. NWIHP advise that at least 3,000 women accessed free contraception through their services in 2025.
Similar supports for accessing contraception are in place with the Women’s Health Service, which supports people working in the sex trade. The Women’s Health Service supported over 330 women in 2025.
The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in 2019 and available on the Department’s website, laid the foundations for the introduction of the Free Contraception Scheme. In addition to recommending the phased introduction of free contraception, the report also noted that policy proposals must also focus on accessibility, education and workforce capacity as well as cost.
In addition to the measures already in place with NWIHP and the WHS, research has been undertaken recently to evaluate access to the scheme. The Healthy Ireland Survey, 2025, published last November, examined contraceptive choices, noting a rise in the use of LARCs, especially hormonal coils, after the age of 35. Work is ongoing within NWIHP to train more staff members to fit LARCs, and the ICGP’s GP training scheme continues to be supported.
The Healthy Ireland Survey, 2025, also shows that awareness of the scheme was high in age-groups eligible to access it (86% in 18-25 and 74% in 26-34 year-olds). Qualitative research is underway, in partnership with the National Women’s Council of Ireland and TCD, supported by the Women’s Health Fund, to assess awareness of, and access to the scheme amongst key groups. It is envisaged that this research will be published in Q2, 2026.
Another initiative to expand capacity within the Free Contraception Scheme is to make additional services available through pharmacies. The landmark Community Pharmacy Agreement, launched in 2025, supports expanding pharmacy services, delivering safe, efficient and accessible healthcare, across Ireland. The Common Conditions Scheme, allowing access to treatment for 8 common conditions through pharmacies, was publicly launched in January 2026.
The Agreement supports pharmacy prescription of contraception, under defined clinical circumstances, for which some legislation, the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 2024 (the 2024 Act), is already in place. In order to enable pharmacy provision of contraception to be delivered free of charge under the FCS, the legal framework for the FCS must be amended to include prescribing pharmacists. Drafting of enabling legislation has been included as a priority in the Spring List and will be progressed as soon as possible.
The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, the National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035, the Sláintecare 2025+ Plan and the Women’s Health Action Plans all commit to further sequential expansion of the scheme, such that it eventually encompasses the full reproductive age-range. However, any decision relating to further expansion of the scheme must be considered through the Estimates process in advance of the annual Budget each year.
While contraception provided through the FCS is very effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy, hormonal contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The National Condom Distribution Scheme supports both STI prevention and accessible contraception for men and their partners. 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. The NCDS is open to those aged 17 and above. Over 1.2m condoms were distributed in 2025.
