Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
1080. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health in respect of the 2022 Women’s Health Action Plan, if he will report on his Department’s achievement of the maternal health goal of developing two postnatal hubs; if he will make a statement on the postnatal hub programme; if it has dedicated funding; and budget allocation and spend on same in the past two years. [44228/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
