Press release
Minister for Health announces free contraception now available to women aged 32-35
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that from today, the Free Contraception Scheme has been expanded to include women aged 32-35. This means that all women aged 17 to 35 inclusive, are now covered under the scheme.
The service covers the cost of consultations with GPs, family planning, student health and primary care centres, and prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the Health Service Executive (HSE) Re-Imbursement List.
It is available 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.
There has been strong demand for the scheme since it was introduced in September 2022, initially for women aged 17 to 25. The scheme has subsequently been expanded in phases so that it now includes all women aged 17 to 35.
Minister Donnelly said:
"Improving access to contraception is a government priority and I’m delighted with the success of the Free Contraception Scheme to date. Almost 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies offer services under the scheme, with more than 189,000 women accessing these services in 2023.
"Supported by approximately €48 million in funding for 2024, we’re now in a position to extend these services to women aged 32 to 35.
"We know that many women in this age group may be planning to start families, with 33 years being the average age to give birth. However, it is important that we continue to support women in providing equitable access to services that allow them to control their reproductive health, avoid unintended pregnancies, and to use hormonal contraceptives to treat adverse symptoms of periods."
Further information regarding both free prescription contraception and the National Condom Distribution Service is available through the HSE’s Sexual Wellbeing website. This information is regularly updated and provides full details of how to access the scheme.
The Free Contraception Scheme was introduced in September 2022, initially for those aged 17 to 25, and expanded to include 26-30-year-olds, in 2023. It was further expanded to include women aged 31 in January 2024.
The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, family planning, student health and primary care centres, and prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the Health Service Executive (HSE) Re-Imbursement List. These options include long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). LARCs include injections, implants, and hormonal and copper intra-uterine devices and systems (coils). The scheme also includes emergency contraception in addition to the oral contraceptive pill, patch and ring. LARC fittings, removals, injections and checks are also free of charge under the scheme.
Prescriptions are dispensed at a local pharmacy of choice. If LARCs are chosen (coils and implants, for example), patients return to a service provider participating in the scheme to have the device fitted, and subsequently removed. All of these costs are fully covered by the State and are free of charge to the patient.
From today, women who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and aged from their 17th birthday until the day before their 36th birthday will be eligible for free contraception under the scheme.
Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted while eligible for the scheme will remain eligible for follow-up care related to their devices after their 36th birthday, that is, subsequent checks and free removal of any devices. This measure ensures continuity of care.