Women aged 27-30 are now included in a ‘free’ contraception scheme fully paid by the State [1] that was introduced last year for 17 to 26 year olds.
This comes despite a 2019 Working Group on Access to Contraception, under the then Health Minister, Simon Harris, say the proposal would probably be a waste of public funds [2].
It is open to women, girls, and “people who identify as transgender or non-binary, in cases where a prescription or procedure is deemed suitable by doctors”.
It covers the costs of GP consultations, family planning, student health and primary care centres along with prescriptions for a variety of contraception options.
Those options include long-acting reversible contraception (LARCS), which include injections, implants (the bar), and hormonal and copper intra-uterine devices (the coil).
LARCS fittings, removals, and checks are included in the scheme.
Emergency contraception – which can act as an abortifacient – is also included in it as well as the oral contraceptive pill.