Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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784. To ask the Minister for Health if she will examine whether post-natal care within maternity hospitals is sufficiently mother focused in conjunction with focusing on the baby; her views on whether there is capacity to increase the level of assistance provided to mothers under their care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27644/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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788. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding postpartum support for mothers; if she will consider extending the current six-week provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27648/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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789. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding postpartum support for mothers; if the service could be expanded to include 24-hour access to services for mothers; particularly for first time mothers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27649/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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790. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider providing a scheme targeted at new mothers to provide GP visits; similar to what is in place for newborn babies, to provide support postpartum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27650/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 784, 788, 789 and 790 together.

Delivering safe, woman-centred, nationally-consistent maternity services continues to be a priority of this Government.

The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme (MICS) provides an agreed programme of care to all expectant mothers who are ordinarily resident in Ireland. This service is provided by a family doctor (GP) of the woman’s choice and a maternity unit or hospital. Women are entitled to this service even if they do not have a medical card.

The GP provides an initial examination, if possible before 12 weeks, and a further 5 examinations during the pregnancy, which are alternated with visits to the maternity unit or hospital. In the case of a significant illness, e.g. diabetes or hypertension, women may have up to 5 additional visits to the GP. After the birth, the GP will examine the baby at 2 weeks and both mother and baby at 6 weeks. The Scheme, including the schedule of visit, is currently under review as an action of the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026.

The Women's Health Action Plan 2024-2025 and the National Maternity Strategy call for a coordinated approach to support postnatal women and new babies in the community. The National Maternity Experience Survey has shown that improving postnatal care in the community is a priority for women. That is why, since 2022 significant investment have been directed into the establishment of a national network of Postnatal Hubs that provide essential care for women in the community in the weeks after birth. A total of five Postnatal Hubs were open by the end of 2023 in Cork, Kerry, Portiuncula, Sligo and Carlow-Kilkenny. €0.4 million was allocated in 2024 to establish four more Postnatal Hubs, with a full year cost of €1.9 million in 2025. An additional €2.0 million has been invested in new development funding through the National Maternity Strategy in 2025, which will initiate four further Postnatal Hubs, bringing the national network to 13.

These Hubs provide essential care for women in the community and closer to home in the weeks after birth, and currently there is no nationally defined cutoff for the period in which women can access these services. Women who have attended this service have reported how much they value the additional support, including hotlines, birth reflections, and physiotherapy. A review of the pilot Hubs is underway, with a view to supporting the national standardisation of this model.

This Government will continue to listen to women and drive improvements across maternity services, building on the significant progress and investment to date driven through the National Maternity Strategy.