From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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The Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton and Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth, have launched a new procurement framework that allows public sector bodies to easily purchase period products and no-cost vending machines, for use in public offices, buildings and facilities.
Recognising the seriousness of period poverty, Government included a commitment to address period poverty in the Programme for Government and supported the recommendations of the Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper, published in early 2021. Included in those recommendations was the need to develop a co-ordinated approach to the procurement of period products.
This new procurement framework agreement allows government departments, State agencies, local authorities and other publicly funded bodies to purchase period equality products easily and in compliance with procurement guidelines.
Launching the framework agreement alongside Minister Smyth, Minister Naughton said:
"It is great to see this procurement framework launched, which will make it easier for state bodies to secure and provide period products sustainably and cheaply. Critically, this is collaborative work with the HSE, community health organisations, local authorities, family resource centres and other community partnerships.
“Backed by funding, we have provided €814,000 for this initiative in Budget 2023 – this Framework will support our partners to purchase products, vending machines, equip their own facilities and distribute period products, including tampons, sanitary pads, menstrual underwear, menstrual cups and much more, to those most in need.”
The framework agreement also supplies cleaning, paper and other personal hygiene products. The inclusion of period products was agreed as part of a collaboration between the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which is a division of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR), and the inter-Departmental Implementation Group tasked with co-ordinating efforts to combat period poverty across Government, led by the Department of Health.
The agreement contains four lots dedicated to period equality (menstrual) products, which include:
Public bodies are able to easily access these products through direct drawdown, via the OGP’s Buyer Zone site. A public body who is using this framework agreement will absorb the costs of purchasing these products and can then offer the products free of charge in its bathrooms.
This framework agreement also includes a number of key green and sustainability elements, and re-usable and more sustainable disposable product options are included in the range of period products available to order.
Minister Smyth welcomed the launch, saying:
“This arrangement is the result of extensive collaboration between procurement teams in the OGP, the Department of Health, and the cross-Government Implementation Group, and it’s brilliant to see such a positive, tangible outcome from partnership working.
“The Programme for Government commits to supporting period equality, and this arrangement offers a simple mechanism for public bodies to purchase sustainable period products in line with public procurement best practice.
“I would encourage any public body which is interested in supplying period products to make use of this straightforward arrangement, which offers a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable solution.”
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is a division of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
Public bodies who are interested in using this framework agreement can find out more information on the OGP’s Buyer Zone.
The Department of Health has established an inter-Departmental Period Poverty Implementation Group (“IG”), with representation from most government departments, to achieve cross sectoral input and to co-ordinate oversight of implementation measures recommended by the Discussion Paper. The purpose of the Group is to implement the recommendations of the Discussion Paper; to improve access to period products for those who may need them, and to widen the knowledge base regarding the incidence and impacts of period poverty in Ireland.
The Healthy Ireland Survey 2022, published on 5 December, 2022, found that:
The most urgent focus is on supporting those most in need (for example: the homeless, those living with addiction, minorities including Travellers, Roma and refugees and those experiencing consistent poverty). Funding of €814,000 was allocated in 2023 (€514,000 to the department and €300,000 to the HSE).
The HSE are implementing a period dignity support programme through HSE Social Inclusion and the Community Health Organisation network, with a focus on Travellers and Roma and other vulnerable groups, working with community organisations and facilities.
The department is supporting Local Authorities and NGOs, including family resource centres and charities working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and/or consistent poverty directly, to progress period poverty mitigation projects.
2023 supports are currently being allocated, with 21 local authorities and 11 NGOs funded to date. This includes significant funding for the Family Resource Centre National Forum, which is supporting period product provision through 44 family resource centres across the country.