Derek McDowell (Labour)

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment, which relates to sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. I tabled it because it has come to my attention that there are real difficulties and problems for people in Dublin seeking to access testing for STIs.

The Minister of State, being at the responsible Department, will probably know that there has been a steady but considerable increase in the number of STIs reported in Ireland since 1994 that cumulatively constitutes 173%. That refers in particular to such infections as chlamydia and syphilis. The former presents particular difficulties, in that for many women it is asymptomatic; to put it in plain language, one does not know that one has it. It can have very serious implications for later fertility.

We must considerably improve current facilities for testing. As matters stand, there are two or perhaps three public STI clinics in Dublin, St. James's Hospital, the Mater Hospital and, I understand, the former Baggot Street Hospital. If one goes to the walk-in clinics in St. James's Hospital or the Mater Hospital, one takes a ticket on a "first come, first served" basis. There is every chance that one may not be seen on the day that one attends, given the considerable demand for the service provided. If one wishes to make an appointment in advance, I understand that one can wait weeks or even months before one gets a suitable one. It is not a satisfactory state of affairs.

I have contacted GPs known to me, and they seem unsure regarding the extent to which testing is available from GP clinics. The GPs can administer the test and send off the sample to a testing laboratory. In any event, it is clear that it is quite costly, ranging in price from €80 to €150. The service that we provide for people who are in many case quite distressed and worried is inadequate and does not meet the need.

Of course, people have a responsibility for their own sexual health, but we must be of assistance to them, and in many cases they are very young. There was undoubtedly a peak in awareness in the 1980s and early 1990s, when public information campaigns centred on HIV and AIDS. Awareness of STIs generally, including HIV and AIDS, has diminished very considerably since. There is a clear need for the HSE to undertake a further campaign of awareness that will bring to people's attention the dangers not just of HIV but of the other diseases that I mentioned.

As the Minister of State will be aware, there are several campaigns run through the HSE and the former health boards. There is a national AIDS strategy, a national crisis pregnancy strategy, and a youth as a resource strategy, among others. However, there seems to be no overarching strategy or campaign to get across to young people the need to be aware of the danger of STIs and take whatever measures necessary — principally, safe sex — to ensure that they do not become infected.

We must examine radical measures such as increasing the availability of condoms and providing them free in places where young people congregate to get it across to them that there is a need to take measures to ensure safe sex. The typical cost of condoms purchased in a pub is approximately €4 for two, which strikes me as exploitative. It was one of the worst examples of rounding up following the introduction of the euro. We should try to encourage the owners of pubs and clubs to provide condoms for free where young people congregate in large numbers rather than charging such clearly exploitative prices. My primary thrust this evening is the availability of testing and I look forward to the Minister of State's response.