Dáil debates

Thursday, 31 March 2022

National Maternity Hospital: Statements

 

6:05 pm

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the new national maternity hospital. It is important to acknowledge that women have been failed by the State for too long, which this Government recognises. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, published the Women's Health Action Plan 2022–2023 just a while ago. This puts women at the heart of the policymaking process for the first time ever. This women's health action plan is a landmark publication, which will enable us to offer better, more timely care to women, with tailored services across age groups, increasing opportunities for women to become partners in their own healthcare.

Women's health is the top priority for this Government and it is strongly supported by budget 2022, with €31 million in additional funding for the development of women's health. There is €8.6 million extra for continued implementation of the national maternity strategy. Some €9 million will be provided to fund access to contraception for women between the ages of 17 and 25. Some €5.3 million will be provided to increase the number of CIN 3 gynaecological clinics to 20 nationally, specialist menopause clinics to four nationally, and special endometriosis services to two nationally. Some €5 million will be provided to bring the women's health fund to €10 million, to support innovative new approaches to women's health nationwide. That is set out in the Women's Health Action Plan 2022–2023.

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