Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that Cura have in place arrangements which fully comply with the service level agreement made with the Crisis Pregnancy Agency on the matter of distribution of the Positive Options leaflet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34294/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The matters at issue are ones between the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and CURA in the first instance. The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) was established in 2001. The Agency has responsibility for funding a range of independent agencies providing counselling services to women with a crisis pregnancy. The CPA has informed me that such funding is subject to a service agreement between the CPA and each counselling agency. It has also indicated that a key element of this is that each counselling service commits to refer women to other bona fide service providers where it is not in a position to provide the information or service requested. Research has shown that counselling gives women extra time and space to reflect on their decision regarding their pregnancy. If a woman has more time to come to terms with her pregnancy, this makes the option of abortion less likely.

I understand that the CPA and CURA are at present in communication regarding the question of continued funding for the organisation based on the terms of their service agreement. I do not consider it appropriate that I should make any further comment on the matter pending the outcome of these discussions.