Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Buttimer for raising this important issue, as well as for his dedication and commitment to health and disability matters in the Cork area.

Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health. This was evidenced by the publication of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, the first major strategy to tackle this vital area. We have made good progress with implementation of the strategy since 2015. The Department of Health, along with the HSE's sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme, has worked hard to build important partnerships with a range of community and voluntary groups, all of which are working with us to implement a range of important sexual health initiatives. We will begin work on a new strategy in 2020.

One area of concern to us all continues to be the rise in new diagnoses of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This year has seen several major actions launched to combat these rising rates of infection. In June, Ireland formally became a member of the HIV fast-track cities initiative, a major global partnership committed to accelerating local HIV/AIDS responses. Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway have joined this network with €450,000 in funding provided in 2019 for the implementation of local actions, such as increased access to HIV testing. Cork Sexual Health Centre has benefitted from this funding allocation.

The most significant development this year has been the introduction of a national programme of HIV PrEP. This involves the pre-emptive use of anti-retroviral medication to prevent HIV infection within a holistic prevention service which includes regular monitoring and testing, as well as advice and counselling on safer sex practices. Funding was provided in 2019 to services which met national standards and were ready to commence a service. Since 4 November, eight public sexual health services in Dublin, Portlaoise, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have commenced providing a HIV PrEP programme.A number of private providers who meet national standards for PrEP have also been approved. Funding of €5.4 million has been secured for 2020 to allow a full national roll-out of a high quality, holistic programme and fund the additional staff and other resources required to provide HIV PrEP within a broader sexual health and HIV prevention programme. I am pleased to inform the Senator that funding has been approved for a HIV PrEP service in Cork University Hospital, CUH. Cork University Hospital has been providing HIV services for over 20 years. Over that time the services have developed and currently provide care to approximately 700 people with HIV. As part of the ongoing developments in CUH, a PrEP clinic will commence shortly. The recruitment of the necessary personnel to support this development has commenced and currently is progressing. A PrEP service in CUH is therefore expected to start in February 2020.