Ms Helen Deely:

I can give the committee some statistics on contraception from the ICCP study from 2003 to 2010. It tells us that even though older age groups are less likely to use contraceptives consistently every time they have sex, there is an increase in contraceptive use across all age groups. Condom use increased from 57% in 2003 to 62% in 2010. Use of the pill increased from 39% to 43% in those years. There was an increase in IUDs from 6% to 11%. Consistent use of contraception is lower in the older age group. That has to do with the fact that sometimes women do not believe they are fertile or are ambivalent towards becoming pregnant or would not view an unplanned pregnancy as a crisis. Increasing access to contraception outside of medical card holders would be a policy decision. There would need to be information and education campaigns on it in terms of consistent and proper use of contraceptives. In our programme, we run campaigns to promote consistent use of contraceptives. We fund the ICGP to claim for long-acting reversible contraceptives, LARC. We also fund a national condom distribution service that distributes condoms to groups working with those at risk of HIV or STIs.