Colleges urgently need more sexual health services, claims union

MORE services are urgently needed in colleges to offer information and testing in relation to sexual health, student leaders claimed yesterday.

Launching its annual sexual health awareness (SHAG) week in Dublin, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) welcomed the recent reduction in the VAT rate charged on condoms as a small measure towards improving young people’s ability to make sensible decisions about their sexual activity. But union president Shane Kelly said the reduction to 13.5% could be further reduced to just 5%, as is allowed under EU law.

“We would hate to think that any downturn in the economy or lack of money would make it difficult for young people to make sensible decisions about their sexual health, like buying condoms,” he said.

However, he added that their campaign is also about making greater information available for young people in college.

“In big colleges, there’s no dedicated sexual health clinic or people to talk to about sexual health issues.

“You don’t have to have an STI to go get tested, it’s part of good health and people can get checked regularly the same as they do for other health matters,” Mr Kelly said.

During SHAG week, which began yesterday, USI will distribute 3,500 sexual health awareness packs. Each contains a condom and lubricant, as well as information provided by the Irish Family Planning Association and from the Crisis Pregnancy Agency’s thinkcontraception.ie website.