The 2022 Women's Health Action Plan and the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 call for a coordinated approach to support postnatal women and new babies in the community. The National Maternity Experience Survey has shown us that improving postnatal care is a priority for women. That is why, since 2022, I have directed significant investment into piloting and establishing a national network of Postnatal Hubs. Five Hubs are already running, with four more currently in development. Budget 2025 will provide four more Hubs, bringing the national network to 13.
These Hubs provide essential care for women in the community in the weeks after birth. I know from women who have attended this service how much they value the additional support, including hotlines, birth reflections, and physiotherapy.
To initiate the first two Postnatal Hubs, in 2022 €0.9 million was allocated through the Women's Health Fund. In the same year, this Government provided record funding of €8.7 million for the National Maternity Strategy, through which three further Postnatal Hubs were funded. A total of five Postnatal Hubs were open by the end of 2023 in Cork, Kerry, Portiuncula, Sligo and Carlow-Kilkenny.
I have allocated €0.4 million in 2024 to establish four more Postnatal Hubs, with a full year cost of €1.9 million in 2025.
This Government is investing an additional €2.0 million in the National Maternity Strategy in Budget 2025, which includes €0.9 million to open four further Postnatal Hubs.
These hubs will support women for up to 6 weeks post birth by addressing many gaps identified by women in postnatal care, including through provision of specialist bespoke lactation, perinatal mental health and birth reflective clinics alongside routine midwifery-led postnatal health promotion and education clinics.
To further enhance breastfeeding supports, this Government announced funding in Budget 2025 for five new lactation consultant posts, which will be allocated based on service demand within the HSE. Funding is also being allocated for the provision of additional breast pumps for mothers of critically ill and pre-term infants, enabling them to provide breastmilk for their babies while they stay in hospital for extended periods.
