Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. The sexual health strategy is a core priority for Healthy Ireland and for the Government. Additional funding of approximately €4 million was allocated to sexual health between budgets 2022 and 2023.

The recent independent review by Crowe Ireland of the first National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 identifies some key successes. These include: expanding free access to contraception through the free contraception scheme for women and national condom distribution service; the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, for HIV prevention and joining the HIV fast-track cities programme; introducing a nationwide free home sexually transmitted infection, STI, testing service in 2022; additional data and information through surveys and research; developing a wide range of educational resources; public engagement and communications campaigns; the sexualwellbeing.iewebsite; and working in partnership with NGOs to support patients and communities.

The review includes 32 recommendations to inform the next strategy. These were drawn from stakeholder consultations, international comparisons and expert recommendations. The review is published and available through the Healthy Ireland website. Work on a refreshed national sexual health strategy was delayed due to Covid, but commenced earlier this year. The first meeting of the policy development group is scheduled for July. The renewed strategy will build on the priorities of its predecessor. Given the rapid development and change, it is likely the remit of the strategy will be widened. It is envisaged the strategy will be published in quarter 4.

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