Cork TD calls for new sexual health strategy to be published

A Cork TD has called for the new national sexual health strategy to be published amid high rates of sexually transmitted infections.

Speaking in the Dáil earlier this week, Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central Pádraig Rice said that there is currently no active sexual health strategy for Ireland.

“The previous strategy was launched a decade ago by Leo Varadkar when he was minister for health,” he said.

“The sexual health services are thin on the ground, and starved of resources.”

Minister of state at the Department of Health, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, said that sexual health was a priority for the Government, adding: “Following expert advice, the second national sexual health strategy underwent an additional round of stakeholder consultation and feedback, which is now complete.

“The good news is that the strategy was approved to progress to design stage at the end of last week.

“Once design is completed, the strategy will be submitted for ministerial and Government approval, then launched. It will be launched quite soon.”

She added that HIV and STI rates have been rising both nationally and internationally, adding that €550,000 had been allocated in 2025 to support the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis scheme, bringing the total allocation for HIV PrEP to €6.45m.

Mr Rice said it was “welcome” to hear that the strategy is to be launched soon but added: “This is not the first time it has been promised”.

He highlighted the importance of the strategy, given that last month the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that Ireland had the highest rates of gonorrhoea in Europe and among the highest rates of syphilis.

“Services on the ground are really thin, particularly outside Dublin,” added Mr Rice.