Young love: No cost barrier to practising safe sex 

Women aged 17-25 will no longer have to pay for contraception but experts say a public health awareness campaign is needed

Various studies show festivals to be an ideal environment for casual sex and risky sexual behaviour has been linked to alcohol and substance abuse. Pic: iStock.

Festival season is in full swing after a three-year hiatus and the government has pledged to make contraception free for females aged 17-25. Will this mark the beginning of a new era of safer sex?

As part of a €31m women’s sexual health package, the cost of medical consultations, prescription medication, and the fitting and removal of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) such as the coil and hormonal implants will be covered for women in this age group from September of this year.