The Irish Government has announced that the State's Free Contraception Scheme has been expanded to include women aged 32-35.
The measure, announced by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, means that the scheme now covers women aged 17-35.
The scheme includes the cost of consultations with GPs, family planning, student health, and primary care centers. It also covers prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the Health Service Executive (HSE) Re-Imbursement List.
The scheme is available 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.
Minister for Health, @DonnellyStephen has announced that from today, the Free Contraception Scheme has been expanded to include women aged 32-35. This means that all women aged 17 to 35 inclusive, are now covered under the scheme.https://t.co/dlyISqorDK pic.twitter.com/EgDBMzNBYD
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) July 1, 2024
Ireland's free contraception scheme was introduced in September 2022 for those aged 17 to 25, expanded to include 26 to 30-year-olds last year, and expanded again in January to include women aged 31.
Donnelly said there has been a huge demand for the scheme ever since it was originally introduced for women aged 17-25 in September 2022.
"Improving access to contraception is a government priority and I’m delighted with the success of the Free Contraception Scheme to date," Donnelly said in a statement.
"Almost 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies offer services under the scheme, with more than 189,000 women accessing these services in 2023.
"Supported by approximately €48 million in funding for 2024, we’re now in a position to extend these services to women aged 32 to 35.
"We know that many women in this age group may be planning to start families, with 33 years being the average age to give birth.
"However, it is important that we continue to support women in providing equitable access to services that allow them to control their reproductive health, avoid unintended pregnancies, and to use hormonal contraceptives to treat adverse symptoms of periods."
Further information regarding both free prescription contraception and the National Condom Distribution Service is available through the HSE’s Sexual Wellbeing website. This information is regularly updated and provides full details of how to access the scheme.
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