Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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739. To ask the Minister for Health the policies in place and the further measures he has considered to tackle period poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40235/20]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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740. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered following the example of Scotland and provide free period products to all who require them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40236/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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744. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce free access to sanitary products such as tampons and sanitary pads in schools, colleges, universities and other public buildings; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40280/20]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 740 and 744 together.

The National Strategy for Women and Girls (NSWG) Strategy Committee, now led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, established a sub-committee on period poverty in 2019, chaired by the Department of Health.

In line with the recommendations of Oireachtas motions passed in early 2019, its remit included establishing the extent of period poverty in Ireland and population cohorts most at risk. The Terms of Reference also included giving due consideration to the circumstances of young people under the age of 25, targeting of high-risk groups, stigma reduction and mainstreaming period poverty mitigation measures across all relevant Government Departments and public bodies.

In addition, the Programme for Government 2020, makes the following specific commitment under ‘Better Opportunities through Education and Research’ - “Provide a range of free, adequate, safe, and suitable period products in all educational publicly-funded settings (including schools, colleges and HEIs), to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period poverty.”

The NSWG Sub-Committee on Period Poverty has drafted a report of its work, which will be considered at the next meeting of the NSWG Strategy Committee, which is currently scheduled for early December, 2020. Period poverty provisions in other jurisdictions, including Scotland, are discussed in the report and have therefore also been submitted for consideration.