Access to publicly funded IVF treatment and the expansion of free contraception in today's Budget have been welcomed by advocate groups.
Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath announced that free contraception will be extended to women aged from 16 to 30 years. It is currently available to those aged 17 to 25.
The scheme providing free contraception for women aged from 17 to 25 is being extended to include those aged from 16 to 30, Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath has said | Follow live updates: https://t.co/jCVQKngf5n pic.twitter.com/0RnlAD63Ja
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 27, 2022
"We strongly welcome the extension of free contraception scheme, which has been a key Budget ask for National Women's Council," said Director Orla O'Connor.
"This is a significant step forward to enabling women have control over their reproductive lives," she said.
For the first time, the Budget will also provide supports in relation to access to IVF treatment.
"Currently infertility services are not publicly available and are not accessible to women on lower income due to the very high costs.
"The introduction of publicly funded IVF would be an important step towards ensuring equitable access to fertility treatment," said Ms O'Connor.
The move has also been welcomed by the National Infertility Support and Information Group (NISIG).
"We very much welcome this announcement today by Minister [for Health Stephen] Donnelly, and look forward to engagement with the Department so that this good news can be made a reality without delay, said the Chairperson of NISIG Caitríona Fitzpatrick.
"Nothing less than fully publicly funded IVF treatment available to all those who need it must be delivered in September 2023 as set out by the Minister today," she said.
Mr McGrath also announced an expansion to women's health hubs along with additional funding for screening and other women's health services.
Meanwhile, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announced "a zero rate of VAT to hormone replacement therapies, as well as the small number of period products that are currently subject to a 9% rate".
