Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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891. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of introducing free access on the public service to abortion services in accordance with the Citizens’ Assembly recommendations. [34576/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The information the Deputy has requested is not available at this time.

As the Deputy is aware, the report of the Citizens’ Assembly on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, containing its recommendations, is being considered by the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which has been formally established by the Dáil and the Seanad for the purpose. The remit of the Special Joint Committee is to consider the Citizens’ Assembly report and recommendations and to report its conclusions and recommendations to both Houses of the Oireachtas within three months of its first public meeting.

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 currently regulates access to a termination of pregnancy, if a pregnant women’s life, as distinct from her health, is at risk from a threat to her physical or mental health. Delivery of termination of pregnancy under the Act is provided in public obstetric units or, where needed, in large public multi-disciplinary hospitals with critical and intensive care facilities, as part of general obstetric/gynaecological services.