Minister For Health Announces Expansion of the Free Contraception Scheme To Include Women Aged 32-35

Monday, 3 June 2024 00:05

By Tara Flanagan

From 1 July 2024, all women aged 17 to 35, inclusive, will be covered under the scheme.

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly has announced the expansion of the Free Contraception Scheme to include women aged 32-35. This means that from 1 July 2024, all women aged 17 to 35, inclusive, will be covered under the scheme.

This extension has been 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.

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, with more than 189,000 women accessing the service in 2023.

More from National News

Spain To Launch €60 Unlimited Travel Pass As Irish Campaigner Calls For Better Service Frequency

Audio

Spain is making a single monthly 60 euro travel pass available from next month for unlimited public transport services nationwide.
Fines And Jail Terms Proposed For Sellers As Crackdown On Disposable Vapes Begins

Audio

Next year, the Government plans to regulate the colours and flavours of the products.
Lower Childcare Fees Promised - But Providers Say They Are Being Ignored

Audio

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers is criticising the plan, saying the group is being ignored.
Man Accused Of Assaulting 10-Year-Old In Saggart Tells Gardaí Child Said "She Was 18"

The accused man has previously been charged with the sexual assault of the young girl at Garter Lane Saggart on the 20th of October.
Up to 100 Maynooth Students Face School Travel Chaos After Bus Service Pulled

Families with children attending Maynooth Post Primary School and Maynooth Community College have been told the service is no longer financially viable, triggering fears of severe disruption when schools reopen in January.
Children Eating At Desks And Walking On Public Roads As Curragh Community College "Bursting At Seams"

The pressure stems from a 2018 decision to expand the school to absorb overflow from Kildare town and Newbridge, on the understanding that a new school would be delivered at the former Magee Barracks site.
Jim Gavin Was Asked About Tenant Dispute Twice Before Being Selected As Fianna Fáil Presidential Candidate

Fianna Fáil TDs and senators are currently meeting to discuss the findings of an internal report into the party's botched presidential campaign
Three Motorists Fined During Naas School Run As Children Were Not Wearing Seatbelts

Each driver received three penalty points and a €120 fine for each unbelted child.