Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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406. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to progress the recommendations of the special Dáil Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution report, specifically its recommendations on free contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28818/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Following the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, a Working Group was established in April 2019 to consider the range of policy, regulatory and legislative issues arising in relation to improving access to contraception in Ireland.

The Group’s high-level report, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception and the mechanisms available to overcome those barriers, noting that any policy proposal must focus on accessibility, education, workforce capacity as well as cost.

A sizable body of work remains to be addressed in order to develop and finalise the policy approach, bring forward the necessary legislative proposals and ensure the implementation of service delivery arrangements. Progress on these issues has unfortunately been delayed due to the need to focus on and prioritise the response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

It is, however, important to stress that my Department and this Government remain committed to providing free contraception over a phased basis, starting with women aged 17 – 25, as set out in the Programme for Government.

Although the health service can and does provide supports in relation to sex education, the issue of sex education in schools is a matter for my colleague Norma Foley, TD, as Minister for Education.