Local TD and Minister of State for Business, Employment, and Retail, Emer Higgins, has welcomed the announcement from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly that the Free Contraception Scheme now includes women aged 32-35.

Minister Higgins stated, “This is a really welcome expansion of a much-needed service for women. This expansion means all women aged 17 to 35 are now covered for the cost of consultations with GPs, family planning, student health and primary care centres, and prescriptions for a wide range of contraceptive options available on the Health Service Executive Reimbursement List.

Higgins emphasised the importance of this expansion, saying, "access to free contraception is crucial for the sexual health and well-being of women. It empowers them to make informed choices about their reproductive health without the barrier of cost."

 “Budget 2023 introduced significant measures for women, including a zero rate of VAT on certain period products such as menstrual cups. Additionally, €0.71 million from Budget 2022 was allocated to assist local authorities in making period products available through libraries, community and leisure centres, and other local facilities. Budget 2022 also saw an allocation of €5.3 million to enhance access to "see and treat" gynaecology clinics, specialist menopause clinics, and specialist endometriosis services.

I was also really pleased to see the allocation of funding for a community-based Women’s Health Unit at Tallaght University Hospital last year. This funding represents a positive step forward for women’s healthcare in our community”.

 “This Government has prioritised women’s issues, in particular women’s health, and I am delighted that we have continued this trend”, concluded Higgins.

The free contraceptive scheme, initially launched in September 2022 for women aged 17 to 25, has seen strong demand and has been expanded in phases to include all women aged 17 to 35. In 2023, over 189,000 women accessed these services through nearly 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies. The scheme is supported by €48 million in funding for 2024.