Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My closing statement might provide clarification. The free contraception scheme for those aged 17 to 25 represents a wonderful opportunity to increase access to contraception and to better support sexual and reproductive healthcare in Ireland. We hope that the measures will significantly reduce crisis pregnancy rates among this high-risk cohort, who are also the most likely to experience cost barriers to accessing the most effective forms of contraception. The working group on access to contraception and the women’s health task force have, separately, conducted stakeholder engagement exercises in the last five years. The measure is enthusiastically supported by a large majority of stakeholders, particularly clinicians and others working in the area of women’s sexual and reproductive health.

Research conducted in England on the free contraception scheme in that country showed that it was extremely cost-effective and we expect that the outcomes here will be similarly positive. Given that the costs of prescription contraception are typically faced by women, the measures will have a significant positive impact on gender equality. Reducing costs for women will also benefit their partners and families. The scheme will also represent a reduction in the cost of living for those in this vulnerable age cohort who are sexually active and were not previously eligible for a medical or GP visit card. The Department is working hard on finalising the legislative framework and contract discussions with service providers prior to launching the scheme and hopes to be able to provide significantly more detail in the weeks to come.

I will get clarification for the Deputy on how the legislative framework is advancing and on the particularly important point around the information programme and rolling out an information campaign over the coming weeks and months. I will ask the Department to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.

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