John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being taken under the women's health action plan. [16806/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Improving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government and are fully committed to the development and improvement of Women’s Health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health across the whole life cycle.

The Women’s Health Action Plan 2022-2023, published this month, is the first ever such action plan and marks a significant milestone in our efforts to improve women's health. We are currently implementing the plan supported by a significant Budget 2022 investment of €31 million additional funding for new developments in women’s health.

The Action Plan sets out a new framework for prioritising women's health in all areas of policy and commits to ten actions. These actions will have a direct impact on women around the country in a number of ways. For example:

- We are expanding specialist services and out of hours care in 2022 for Paediatric Gynaecology

- We are expanding free contraception to women aged 17-25.

- 4 specialist menopause clinics will operate nationally in 2022 – 3 new clinics.

- 6 regional fertility hubs will operate nationally in 2022- 4 new hubs.

- First Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey of its kind in 2022.

- 9 specialist eating disorder teams will operate nationally in 2022 – 3 new teams.

- 24 additional lactation consultants nationally in 2022.

- 20 “see and treat” gynaecology clinics will operate nationally in 2022 – 6 new clinics.

- 26 Local Authorities are partnering with the Department to roll out period poverty mitigation measures for the first time.

- We are appointing the first GP lead for Women’s Health.

The National Women and Infants Health Programme in the HSE will lead the implementation of the Action Plan in the health services and we intend to report on progress regularly over the lifetime of the plan.