Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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102. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite the availability of pre exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, to prevent HIV transmissions, in view of the continuing rise in infections in 2016 and the fact that ten persons a week are now contracting HIV and the effectiveness of PrEP in dramatically reducing HIV transmissions in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12072/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The use of PReP is only one component of comprehensive HIV prevention. The World Health Organisation( WHO) supports a combination of approaches to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV, including correct and consistent condom use, reduction in the number of sexual partners, HIV testing and counselling, delaying sexual debut, and prompt treatment for STIs (STIs).

Condoms, when used correctly and consistently, are highly effective in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A large body of scientific evidence shows that male latex condoms have an 80% or greater protective effect against the sexual transmission of HIV and other STIs. .

The National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. The strategy was developed in response to a recommendation of the National AIDS Strategy Committee on the need to establish clear leadership within the health sector around the area of sexual health. The Strategy contains 71 recommendations that address all aspects of sexual health and a Sexual Health Action Plan for 2015-2016 that contains 18 priority actions for immediate attention.

One of the priority actions identified in the Action Plan for 2016 is to 'Prioritise, develop and implement guidance to support clinical decision making for STI testing, screening and treatment and on the appropriate use of antiretroviral therapy in HIV prevention’. An Implementation Group has now been established within the HSE as an outcome of this action. This group will make recommendations on the appropriate use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the overall context of the national approach to HIV prevention. Any decision concerning the availability of PrEP will be made following the completion of this work.