Erin McGreehan
Ceist:757. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments available per year under the free contraception scheme. [31845/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 June 2025
Ceisteanna (757, 758)
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:758. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether an additional consultation is provided free of charge when a person needs to review her prescription under the free contraception scheme. [31846/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 757 and 758 together.
The 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. 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.
The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, 2025, commits to continuing to extend access to free contraception.
The FCS works through GPs, primary care, student health and family planning centres and community pharmacies most of which are private sector and deliver services under contract with the HSE which are re-imbursed retrospectively via the Primary Care Re-Imbursement Service (PCRS). Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date.
The availability of appointments are a matter for GPs and other services delivering the scheme. The HSE reports on these retrospectively. The Department, HSE, PSI, IPU and other key stakeholders are working to enable contraceptive prescribing by pharmacists, in order to extend or continue a prescription for contraception, as part of the work of the Community Pharmacy Expansion Implementation Oversight Group. The work on contraception is accompanying wider work to expand the role of community pharmacies to also deliver a common conditions service. More information about the group can be found here - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/community-pharmacy-expansion-implementation-oversight-group/#:~:text=The%20Minister%20for%20Health%20has%20established%20a%20Community,Support%20the%20Expansion%20of%20the%20Role%20of%20Pharmacy%E2%80%9D.
It should be noted that the number of appointments per individual per year is not limited; a contraception appointment should be free for women who fall within the eligible age range and are ordinarily resident in Ireland. Should an initially prescribed contraceptive method need to be changed or checked, for example as a result of side effects, women will be re-imbursed for subsequent appointments under the scheme.
In terms of the total number of appointments with GPs and other service providers delivered under the FCS in 2024 and previous years, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.