Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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401. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to develop a new framework of free birth control and more effective sexual health relationship education; if this framework will be put in place as part of the roll out of new abortion services in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50652/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister established a group, under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer, to consider the issues raised by the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution in their ancillary recommendations, including access to contraception. Primary legislation is required to expand eligibility to female contraception. My department will undertake detailed consideration of this proposal in 2019.

The report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution also recommended that improvements should be made in sexual health and relationship education, including the areas of contraception and consent, in primary and post-primary schools, colleges, youth clubs and other organisations involved in education and interactions with young people.

In line with this recommendation, the Government’s Sexual Health Strategy (2015-2020) aims to provide comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual health education and information to everyone, to encourage the development of a healthy sexuality throughout life, and create a more supportive culture to support education in all settings. Indeed the Sexual Health Strategy sets out that sexual health education of children and young people is the primary responsibility of parents and should be supported through Relationships and Sexuality Education in primary and post-primary schools and by youth organisations and NGOs.

In line with the ancillary recommendation by the Joint Committee on Health in this area, a comprehensive sexual health and wellbeing education, information, and promotion programme will be developed by my Department and the HSE to raise awareness of sexual health and safer sex. This will include expanding access to barrier contraception (condoms). The provision of Sexual Health and Relationship Education in the school sector will also be enhanced by the strong current working arrangements between the education and health sectors through the Healthy Ireland framework. The health system will support any improvements or changes to school based Sexual Health and Relationship Education, including those arising from the review underway by the Department of Education.