Health Services

Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Ceisteanna (1184)

Pádraig Rice

Ceist:

1184. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health her plans to improve sexual health services in Cork; if increased resources will be provided to expand the opening hours of existing sexual health clinics and address long wait times for appointments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2827/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)

Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health. Timely access to sexual health services, free of cost and accessibility barriers, is central to improving and maintaining sexual health and reducing negative sexual health outcomes. We have introduced many new services in recent years and will further support these and additional initiatives, in line with the forthcoming Model of Care. Development of the Model of Care (MoC) is currently underway and further plans will be included in the new National Sexual Health Strategy, which is due to be published in the first half of 2025.

Mapping of sexual health services in Ireland and a sexual health needs assessment was completed in the lifetime of the first Strategy, to inform the proposed MoC and future service planning. It is envisaged that the implementation plan for the Model of Care will include a resourcing and business plan that considers changing demographics, rising HIV and STI rates, new and emerging infections and sexual health threats, the new regional health areas, geographic equity, workforce, infrastructural capacity, and methods of service delivery.

Budget 2025 has provided additional supports for sexual health, including an additional €600,000 to support increasing demand for the free home STI testing scheme and an additional €550,000 for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) that includes funding for 7 additional whole time equivalent staff in public STI clinics facing significant unmet demand for PrEP, from July, 2025.

As the detail of sexual health service delivery in Cork is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.