Free contraception scheme to extend to women up to 37 under budget plans

Up to 100,000 more women could benefit.

The current scheme covers GP visits and prescription charges for contraception for women aged 17 to 35.

That is expected to be extended to 37, with the health budget due to be finalised this week.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said budget negotiations were “down to the wire”.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill previously said extending the scheme costs around €1 million per year for each additional age group.

The Programme for Government and national health strategies have committed to expanding free contraception to cover the full reproductive age range.

The National Women’s Council is calling for the scheme to be extended to women up to 55, saying it could also be merged with the HRT scheme to cover women throughout their reproductive journey.

Around €45 million was allocated to the scheme this year, while extending it to 55 is estimated to cost up to €80 million.

Women will also soon be able to access contraception directly from pharmacies, junior health minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said.

The State also provides free condoms to people aged 17 and over, with more than 1.2 million distributed through the National Condom Distribution Scheme last year.