Seanad debates

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Health Services

2:30 pm

Photo of Maria ByrneMaria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for appearing before the House to discuss this important topic. I seek an update on the progress of the roll-out of the programme on women's health announced in budget 2022. Budget 2022 included a number of announcements relating to women's health, one of which involved the provision of free contraceptives for 18 to 25-year-olds. It is my understanding this is due to happen from August. A survey carried out by Plan International Ireland has found that many females have decided they are going to avail of the offer. Will it begin in August? Will someone who is almost 26 years old be cut off when they turn 26 or can they continue for a year or two?

A total of €10 million of the funding will be used to address period poverty. One survey has found that many females aged between 12 and 19 have found the cost of sanitary products to be very difficult. Some public buildings have started to provide free sanitary products, as have some local authorities. Similarly, in Scotland and New Zealand, free period products are offered to all those who need them. Who will be in charge of the programme in Ireland and will we be able to match what is being done in Scotland and New Zealand, for example? What will be the nature of the roll-out in schools, universities and colleges?

There was also an announcement relating to the funding of four menopause clinics, a really important area. The first one has opened, in Dublin. Will the other three be spread out among the regions or will they all be Dublin based?For example, will there be one in Munster and another in Connacht? It is important that there be a regional spread.

Will the Minister of State update the House on the gynaecological model of care? It ties in with the menopause clinics and is part of the maternity strategy.

Significant emphasis was placed on endometriosis. Will the Minister of State provide an update in that regard? I look forward to hearing from her.

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for the opportunity to speak to the House on the important topic of building a more positive outlook for women's health. That this Oireachtas has finally placed such an emphasis on women's health is a positive outcome. It is great to hear the different voices in both Houses all supporting one another.

My Department is committed to improving women's health. Since the establishment of the women's health task force in 2019, we have engaged with women all over Ireland. We have listened to what they want from their health service and we have taken a number of positive steps to improve women's experiences of healthcare and health outcomes. We are building supports for tackling period poverty. The Government has supported the Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021, taking into account the recommendations of the period poverty in Ireland discussion paper. A cross-governmental period poverty implementation group is co-ordinating the development of interventions recommended in the programme for Government, the discussion paper and the Bill. More than €700,000 has been allocated to my Department in 2022 for initial period poverty measures. I hope to have more detail on the Senator's question about schools and universities soon. I would be happy to return to the House and update it on the matter. We are currently working on HSE-led initiatives for members of the Traveller and Roma communities in the south east as well as projects in collaboration with local authorities, for which the majority have already submitted expressions of interest. We are reaching out to the voluntary sector, including food banks, to support as many people as possible.

Following up on the programme for Government commitment, we are preparing to introduce free contraception for women, starting with 17-to-25-year-olds. Funding of €9 million has been allocated for 2022. The scheme will provide the cost of prescription contraception, two GP consultations per year and fitting, removal and check-ups for long-acting reversible contraceptives; and additional training and certification for medical professionals to fit and remove long-acting reversible contraceptives. Contraceptive options will include contraceptive injections, implants, coils, the patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception. As such, it will not be limited to oral contraceptives only. Expanding the scheme to further age cohorts can be considered once we have had a chance to monitor and evaluate the 17-to-25-year-old scheme and ensure that it is working smoothly.

We anticipate significant progress with the roll-out of a number of specialist menopause clinics this year. In 2021, a specialist menopause clinic was established under the governance of the National Maternity Hospital, the first publicly funded clinic of its kind. Budget 2022 provided the necessary funding to enable the roll-out of an additional three specialist menopause clinics. As to the Senator's question on whether they will all be Dublin based, she will be delighted to learn that they will not be. There will be one in Galway, one in Cork and one in Limerick. The three new menopause clinics being established in 2022 will be part of the maternity networks in the South/South West, University Limerick and Saolta hospital groups. This provides a good catchment area around the country. As I understand it, the operationalisation of the new clinics will be dependent on resourcing the necessary staff. In this regard, the HSE's national women and infants health programme has advised that the engagement with the relevant hospital groups is progressing as planned.

Across each of the issues raised under this Commencement matter - period poverty, contraception and menopause - we are committed to progressing the agenda and advancing women's health experiences and outcomes.

Photo of Maria ByrneMaria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for that positive response. It is great to know that the programme is on course to deliver within the timeframe.

Regarding my first question, I am still unsure as to whether the free contraception programme will start in August. I assume from the Minister of State's answer that it will.The fact that it is to be reviewed for an older cohort once it is up and running is very welcome.

I am delighted that University Maternity Hospital Limerick has also been included in the clinics. This is very welcome news. I thank the Minister of State and the Department for their commitment to women's health. It is an area that has been forgotten for a long time so it is very welcome news.

The Minister of State also spoke about the inclusion of food banks. There are people in poverty who go to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and such places. It is important that there is engagement with those places regarding the provision of products.

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator very much. I agree with her; that is why the food banks were mentioned. Like she said, the likes of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are important.

My understanding is that free contraception will commence in August as planned.

I will touch on one point that was not raised but that comes under my remit, which is perinatal mental health supports. We currently have six main hubs across the country. All 13 spoke sites now have mental health midwives in place under the model of care for specialist perinatal mental health services for women before, during and after their pregnancy. Sometimes people can have mental health difficulties and to have those 19 perinatal mental health midwives in place throughout whole country is really positive.

We have been have been actively progressing a commitment for €31 million in additional funding for women's health in budget 2022. In the coming weeks, we will launch the women's health action plan for 2022-23 setting out the actions that will realise the investment.

I thank the Senator and other women Members of both Houses for raising their voices on women's health. It is very timely and great to see. It is great to have the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, support all our calls and have our voices heard.

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. We certainly echo that. It is wonderful to see such investment in women's health.