Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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951. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of HIV treatment and support services in Ireland; his views on the adequacy of the geographical spread of such services; if he is satisfied that age-specific and age-appropriate services are available where need exists; and if he has plans to review or expand services. [54342/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Sexual health services are being delivered and implemented, led by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme, in accordance with the recommendations set out in the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015 - 2020.  Sexual health and wellbeing is a priority for this Government.

The Strategy's lifetime has been extended to 2022. Following a standard Office of Government Procurement tendering process, the Strategy is currently being independently reviewed in order to chart a new direction for the coming years. The Review will be published on the Healthy Ireland website once complete. 

Key achievements in relation to HIV prevention to date include:

- PrEP HIV prevention programme- Implementation of the national roll-out of a HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme. PrEP is a medicinal treatment which prevents HIV and is provided to populations at substantial risk of sexual acquisition of HIV. Over 2,000 individuals, mostly gay men, are currently registered with the national programme.

- HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine extension to men and women living with HIV up to and including 26 years; and to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), including MSM living with HIV. Over 7,400 MSM and people living with HIV have commenced the vaccine to date.  

- Online STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing- This service is now available on a national basis and allows people to test for STIs in the comfort and privacy of their own homes, reaching those who may be reluctant to visit an STI clinic in person. The service is free at the point of use, avoiding both cost and stigma related barriers to access and facilitating higher detection rates, thereby preventing both onward transmission of infection and significant morbidity and mortality for those who test positive and who can then access treatment in person.  

- Establishment of the National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS) in 2015 - The NCDS functions as a central point for distributing free condoms and lubricant sachets to HSE services and other organisations working directly with individuals and groups who may be at increased risk of negative sexual health outcomes. These include young people; migrants; gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men; sex workers; people living with addiction issues and people living with HIV. 

Over 2 million condoms and over 1 million lubricant sachets have been ordered by 155 organisations since the service was launched.  Products are available through public sector bodies, including STI clinics, hospitals, and HSE health promotion & improvement, third-level institutions, public STI clinics, and NGOs.

Funding has been provided through Budget 2023 to expand the NCDS to GPs, family planning clinics and other primary care service providers who are also providing any of the following services: PrEP, HIV/STI testing, the free contraception scheme and/or termination of pregnancy.

- HIV Fast-Track Cities Initiative

In 2019, Ireland’s four main cities (Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick) signed up to the HIV Fast-Track Cities Initiative, committing to fast-track city-level responses to HIV, as part of a global partnership to end the HIV epidemic. One of the targets of the Fast-Track Cities Initiative is Zero stigma and discrimination. Ending stigma is also one of the core targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Fast-Track Cities Initiative is led by the HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) who received funding from the Department of Health in 2019 to kick-start the initiative and included the development of a national campaign to address HIV-related stigma.

Comprehensive information on HIV testing, treatment, how to access services and other matters relating to sexual health and wellbeing is available through www.sexualwellbeing.ie