Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1145. To ask the Minister for Health if monies were used or transferred from the national maternity strategy to fund abortion services in 2019 or 2020; if so, the amount transferred, in monetary value and as a percentage of the total maternity strategy fund; the date upon which the transfer took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12309/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Maternity Strategy represents a significant development in the delivery of national maternity policy that is fundamentally changing how maternity care is delivered in this country. Implementation of the National Maternity Strategy is continuing, led by the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP). In 2018, maternity developmental funding of €4.15m was provided to the NWIHP so as to enhance and develop the provision of care to women and infants. Funding provided to the NWIHP in 2019 in relation to maternity services was targeted at the full year costs of posts approved in 2018. In 2020, new development funding of €1.5m, was provided for the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy.

The introduction of termination of pregnancy services had no bearing on the funding allocated for the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy. Separate funding was allocated for termination of pregnancy services over the course of 2019 and 2020.