Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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820. To ask the Minister for Health when training and accreditation for medical practitioners to fit and remove long-acting reversible contraception will recommence in view of the stated intention to commence the roll-out of free contraception for 17 to 25 year olds in August 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13953/22]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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821. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the legislation to enable the roll-out of free contraception to 17 to 25 year olds in August 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13954/22]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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822. To ask the Minister for Health the considerations his Department has given to providing free contraception for persons with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13955/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 820 to 822, inclusive, together.

The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception, which include accessibility, information, workforce capacity and, for a significant number of women who may be just above the eligibility threshold for a full GMS (medical) card, cost.

In consideration of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution (JOC8) and the findings of the Working Group on Contraception, the Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort.

Work on this was temporarily delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the cross-disciplinary Contraception Implementation Group was set up in July 2021 to progress the introduction of this scheme, which is scheduled to commence in August 2022.

The scheme will provide for:

1. The cost of prescription contraception;

2. The cost of a minimum of two consultations per annum with GPs and other doctors to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same;

3. The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;

4. The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;

5. Provision of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders through this scheme, to include contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.

Increasing the supports for gynaecological conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis, is a key element of the Women’s Health Action Plan, which was launched on International Women’s Day (March 8^th, 2022). €5.3 million has been allocated in 2022 to grow access to “see and treat” gynaecology clinics, specialist menopause clinics, and specialist endometriosis services for complex care.

As the roll out of free contraception is being introduced in phases by age cohort, patients with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome; will be accommodated as their age group becomes eligible; those holding GMS (medical) cards are already eligible for free contraception, subject only to the prescription charge. Those holding GP Visit cards are currently eligible for free consultation costs, and those ordinarily resident in Ireland are eligible for the Drugs Payment Scheme, which limits the cost of prescription medication to no more than €80 in a calendar month.

Work on the legislative framework for the scheme is ongoing. Formal negotiations with medical and other relevant representative bodies with regard to service provision are due to commence in March/April 2022.

The capacity within the health system to fit and remove LARCs was examined by the Working Group on Contraception; the Report is available on the Department's website. At time of publication in 2019, there were over 1,000 GPs holding LARC certification and that there was scope for enabling practitioners to develop their skills further by promoting further integration between the hospital and community sector and developing local centres of expertise in sexual and reproductive health services.

As part of the Budget 2022 allocation, funds are being made available for additional training capacity with respect to certification of medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs. The HSE is currently working on preparing to roll out these additional training supports.