Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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686. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the exponential increase in pregnant homeless women being referred to the Life Pregnancy Care Services, in 2013 and 2014, the provisions made to alleviate this organisation’s crisis, given the fact that it provides a unique service for women who find themselves homeless and pregnant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29130/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme has a contractual commitment with Life Pregnancy Care Limited to provide Crisis Pregnancy and Post Termination Counselling for women, their partners and/or family members who are or have experienced a crisis pregnancy. In addition, Parenting support and Outreach are provided. A total grant allocation per annum of €476,908.20 is given to Life Pregnancy Care to provide such services in Dublin, Cork and Tipperary.

The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme does not fund emergency accommodation for people with a crisis pregnancy. Funding is currently channelled to this sector from a range of sources including HSE Social Inclusion, Homeless Agency and City Councils.

Dublin City Council paid Life Pregnancy Care Services €42,665 in 2014 under Section 10 of the Protocol Report. This funding covers accommodation for pregnant women and new mothers.