Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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887. To ask the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners across the country who provide abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34363/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As of the 14 June 2022, there are 413 GPs currently providing Termination of Pregnancy service.  The HSE has indicated that it is satisfied that there is good geographic spread of GPs throughout the country providing the service.

It is open to all GPs to sign up to a contract to provide termination of pregnancy services.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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888. To ask the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners across the country who have registered as conscientious objectors and do not provide abortion care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34364/22]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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889. To ask the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners across the country who are unable to provide abortion services due to lack of resources or capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34365/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 888 and 889 together.

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of services on its behalf. GPs who wish to provide termination of pregnancy services may enter into a contract with the HSE to do so.  Given this contractual arrangement, GPs are not required to register as conscientious objectors and the number of same is therefore not available. 

The Government is aware of the manpower issues facing general practice and has taken measures to increase the number of GPs working in the State and consequently increase service capacity within general practice. As GPs are private practitioners, information is not held in regard to the capacity available at individual practices to provide certain services, however provision of the service concerned would not be considered as having a large impact on practice capacity. GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for services provided under the Termination of Pregnancy Service contract.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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890. To ask the Minister for Health the number of public health facilities, excluding general practice, across the country that provide abortion services, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34366/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to a service matter, is has been sent to the HSE for answer. 

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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891. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to introduce safe access zones as of June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34367/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is the Government’s objective to ensure that termination of pregnancy services can be accessed safely and privately by women who need them. In that regard, Safe Access Zones legislation has been included as a priority on the Government legislative programme for 2022. The development of these complex legislative proposals is at an advanced stage and the Minister expects to bring a General Scheme of a Bill on this issue to Government soon, with the legislative proposals published thereafter.