Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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754. To ask the Minister for Health if the Cabinet Committee on Health has concluded its consideration of the recommended legislative changes contained in the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Services) Act 2018; the status of the options paper developed by his Department in response to the report of the Oireachtas Health Committee into the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36635/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Independent Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 made a number of recommendations around increasing access to services, most of which are operational in nature.

The HSE, as requested by Government established a service improvement group to progress the operational recommendations. Meetings of this group are ongoing.

Significant progress has already been made in this regard, for instance six additional hospitals started providing termination services in 2023, an increase of 55%.

Termination services in early pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) are currently provided in 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals, with the remaining two expected to come onboard in 2024.

Furthermore, the revised model of care introduced in response to the Covid pandemic has now been approved as the enduring model of care. Under this blended approach, it is possible for one of the two consultations required for termination in early pregnancy to take place remotely.

This alleviates the time and expense involved in travelling to the GP's surgery twice.

The cumulative effect of these measures, now in place, will substantially reduce barriers and increase access to services for those who need it.

Safe Access Legislation passed both Houses of the Oireachtas and was signed by the President on 7th May 2024. The legislation will commence on the 17th October.

The Review proposals recommending legislative changes were referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration. The Joint Committee on Health submitted a report on the proposed legislative recommendations. Further consideration of this issue is to take place at the Cabinet Committee on Health.