The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that free contraception will now be made available to women aged 32-35 in an expansion of a government scheme.
It means that from 1 July, any woman aged 17 to 35 will be covered to apply for the scheme through the expansion, which was previously available to those aged 17-31.
The scheme, which was launched in 2022, is open to women, girls, and people who identify as transgender or non-binary, in cases where a prescription or procedure is deemed suitable by doctors.
It covers the costs of GP consultations, family planning, student health and primary care centres along with prescriptions for a variety of contraception options.
Almost 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies are providing services under the scheme, with more than 189,000 women accessing the service last year.
The extension was supported by an additional €4 million in funding through the Women’s Health Fund under the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 with a total of €48 million now allocated to the scheme for 2024.
Speaking about the latest expansion, Mr Donnelly said it was an important step to extend the service.
“We know that many women in this age group may be planning to start families, with 33 years being the average age of a first-time mother.”
“However it is important that we support all women in providing equitable access to services that allow them to control their reproductive health and avoid unintended pregnancies”
The minister added that: “amid continuing cost-of-living pressures, this scheme is a significant step forward in our efforts to provide a quality, equitable health service for all.”
