Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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246. To ask the Minister for Health the basis upon which the free contraception scheme excludes those aged over 35; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21598/25]

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 Minister is committed to extend access to the free contraception scheme.

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 Reimbursement 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 phased introduction was undertaken for a number of reasons, as follows:

• A phased approach permits additional GP training in line with service expansion, allowing time to provide training to additional GPs to fit, check and remove long-acting reversible contraception. The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception noted risks regarding the number of GPs qualified to undertake these procedures in 2019, versus likely demand once cost barriers were removed. A training scheme was funded and is underway, managed by the ICGP, which is increasing the numbers of GPs with the expertise to fit, check and remove coils and implants. It is anticipated that demand for coils and implants will be higher in older age cohorts.
• Budgetary and financial planning guidelines recommend that demand-led schemes, such as the free contraception scheme, should be subject to pilot testing and/or phased implementation, in order to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme and real-world costs.
• As per the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception (published in 2019 and available on the Department’s website), it was decided to commence the scheme with younger age cohorts, as they are most likely to experience unplanned pregnancy and least likely to be financially independent. A significant number of people in the 17-25 age cohort are still in full time education and dependent on parents and guardians for income, some of whom may not be willing (or, indeed, in some cases, able) to fund prescription contraception.