Minister for Health hails uptake of free contraception scheme

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

It is projected that 320,000 women in Ireland will have accessed an expanded free contraception scheme in 2024, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said.

The minister highlighted the uptake of the scheme, with data from January to September this year showing that approximately 245,000 people accessed it at least once.

This compares to just under 189,000 women who accessed the scheme in 2023, when it was available to women aged 17–30.

In January, it was extended to women aged 31, and was further expanded in July to include women aged 32 to 35.

Mr Donnelly said: “We introduced the free contraception scheme in recognition of the barriers that many women faced in accessing contraception affordably.

“No-one should have to bear disproportionate financial costs because of their gender.

“I’m very pleased by the strong uptake in the scheme, which is providing women with financial freedom when making choices about their reproductive health.

“Since its launch in September 2022 we have expanded it rapidly in response to clear demand.

“It’s one of many developments in women’s health in recent years that reflect our ongoing efforts to provide a quality, accessible and equitable health service for all, regardless of ability to pay.”

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.

Almost 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies are providing services under the scheme.