Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the extension of access to free contraception as committed to under the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8997/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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The free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary, who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and for whom prescription contraception is deemed suitable by their doctors.

The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, primary care, student health and family planning centres and prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the HSE Re-Imbursement List, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs: injections, intra-uterine devices and systems (coils) and implants) and emergency contraception in addition to the contraceptive Pill, patch and ring. LARC fittings, removals, injections and check-ups are also free of charge under the scheme.

Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted while eligible under the scheme remain eligible for subsequent checks and free removal of any devices inserted prior to reaching the eligibility limit (currently their 36th birthday), to ensure continuity of care. Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date.

The Programme for Government, 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, commits to continuing to extend access to free contraception. The Department is working on the development of the necessary implementation enablers for contraceptive prescribing by pharmacists to extend or continue a prescription for contraception as part of the work of the Community Pharmacy Expansion Implementation Oversight Group. More information about the group can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/431ce-community-pharmacy-expansion-implementation-oversight-group/#:~:text=The%20Minister%20for%20Health%20has%20established%20a%20Community,Support%20the%20Expansion%20of%20the%20Role%20of%20Pharmacy%E2%80%9D .

The Second National Sexual Health Strategy is moving to design stage and will contain significantly more detail on plans for the free contraception scheme, once approved. The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, 2025, commits to continuing to extend access to free contraception.

It is important to note that prescription contraception, while being very effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy, does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The National Condom Distribution Scheme supports both STI prevention and accessible contraception. Free condoms can be accessed through the national network of STI clinics, participating charities and NGO partners and on participating 3rd level campuses. Since 2023, free condoms have also been supplied with orders for free home STI testing kits.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Health when the free HRT therapy programme will be rolled out to pharmacists as promised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10147/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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134. To ask the Minister for Health when free HRT will be made available; and if people will be refunded for medicines bought since the start of the year. [9941/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Health when women will be able to avail of HRT products and medications through the previously announced free HRT scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9987/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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423. To ask the Minister for Health if, given that there has been a delay to the rollout of the free hormone replacement therapy scheme, payments made since January 2025 will be reimbursed to the women affected by the delay when the scheme is rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10389/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 134, 149 and 423 together.

Menopause is an important health and well-being issue which has been prioritised as part of the Government’s commitment to improved women’s health outcomes. Much important work has been done in this area, driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans.

Budget 2025 announced the intention to fund the cost of HRT products prescribed to women to help manage the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause. This new HRT measure represents another step to widen access to and reduce costs associated with menopause related treatments and services and follows on from all the other developments that have taken place over several years.

The new Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future continues to emphasise this important commitment to improving women’s health outcomes and experiences. It also commits to make HRT medicines available at no cost for the drug/product.

Legislation has been passed that means where a woman has been prescribed a HRT product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products will be met by the State.

For the purpose of this measure, menopause means, in relation to a woman, the various stages for the treatment of menopause symptoms and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause and medically induced menopause.

This measure will cover any HRT medications and products which are reimbursable by the HSE, which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause.

My Department has engaged with both the Health Service Executive and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in relation to the practical rollout of this measure.

I met with the IPU on 11 February 2025 to discuss her objectives for expanding and reforming community pharmacy and to progressing the Budget 2025 HRT initiative. This was a constructive engagement, and I listened to issues raised by the IPU. The IPU committed to coming to back to me regarding the introduction of the HRT measure. The IPU have now responded with further information, and this is being considered by my Department.

The goal is to introduce this measure as soon as possible and reimbursement support will be available to participating pharmacies from the date that this measure commences.