Written answers
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Department of Health
Departmental Data
David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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675. To ask the Minister for Health the way the €31 million announced in Budget 2022 for women’s health will be allocated; the sub-allocation to measures within the new measures grouping in tabular form; the amount remaining unallocated; the amount which relates to other new measures funding group commitments; if this is included as a whole or pro-rata; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57502/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Improving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for the Minister and his government as demonstrated by the €31 million euro allocated to women’s health in Budget 2022.
This additional funding for new measures supplements both the ongoing work of the Department in key areas for women and a specific dedicated allocation for innovative approaches to women’s health services nationwide, through the Women’s Health Taskforce ‘Women’s Health Fund’.
There are a number of key initiatives driving progress for women’s health which have been supported through Budget 2022. These new developments include:
| Area of Funding | Details | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Health Fund | Additional funding to the Women’s Health Fund. This funding will support the delivery of the Women’s Health Action Plan, anticipated to be brought to government later this year, which will outline measures needed to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health in outcomes in Ireland. | €5 million |
| Free Contraception for Women Aged 17-25 | Introduction of a scheme for the provision of a wide range of prescription contraceptive choices to women aged 17-25, which will include the costs of the medication and/or devices, fitting and removal, and two consultations regarding contraception per annum. | €8.98 million |
| Gynaecology Services | Investment allocated to the continued investment in gynaecological services. In 2022, we will see the establishment of a further 6 ambulatory gynaecology “see and treat” clinics, increasing the total to 20 clinics nationally; extended endometriosis services in Tallaght and Cork; and further developments will be made in menopause care by establishing three new specialist menopause clinics, based in Galway, Cork and Limerick. | €5.3 million |
| Implementation of the National Maternity Strategy | Funding will enable the on-going implementation of the National Maternity Strategy, with specific focus on ensuring strengthened clinical governance and leadership within services, targeting improvement in the health and wellbeing of women accessing maternity services and enhancing midwifery care for women across the three pathways of care (supported, assisted & specialised). | €8.66 million |
| Perinatal Genetics | Initial establishment of perinatal genetics services. | €1.34 million |
| Period Poverty | Providing access to period products for those who need them, in line with the Programme for Government and the recommendations of the Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper and progressing supporting legislation; the Free Provision of Period Products Bill, 2021. | €0.71 million |
| Obstetric Event Support Team | The establishment of an Obstetrics Event Support Team to support services and sites that report pre-defined severe maternity incidents. | €0.54 million |
| Sexual Assault Treatment Units | Delivery of more accessible and flexible interdisciplinary training and development programmes. | €0.25 million |
A further €16m in other measures to support women's health is embedded within other new measures for 2022 within the Health Vote in areas such as cancer, mental health and social inclusion budgets, bringing the overall investment in women's health to €47m in additional funding provided for 2022.
This additional investment demonstrates continued commitment to women’s health which will be advanced in 2022 through the forthcoming Women's Health Action Plan.
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