Free Contraception Scheme expands to include women aged 35

Women between 32 - 35 will now be able to access free contraception following an announcement by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. File picture

Women aged between 32 - 35 will now be able to access free contraception following an announcement by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

It comes amid the expansion of the Free Contraception Scheme which is now set to include women between the ages of 17 - 35.

The service also covers the cost of consultations with GPs, family planning, student health and primary care centres. Women can also avail of prescriptions for a range of contraceptive options on the HSE Re-Imbursement List.

The scheme is open 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 a high level of demand for the scheme since it was initially introduced in September 2022 for women aged between 17 - 25. The scheme has subsequently been expanded in phases to include women up to 35.

Mr Donnelly welcomed the expansion of the initiative.

“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 €48m in funding for 2024, we’re now in a position to extend these services to women aged 32 - 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 on the website www.sexualwellbeing.ie. Information on the site is regularly updated and provides full details of how to access the scheme.