Free contraception extension has been announced as part of Budget 2023.
Women in Ireland aged 16 - 30 years of age will be able to avail of free contraception.
The extension comes following the commencement of free contraception for those aged 17-25 earlier this month.
It will be up to individual GP's to sign up to the scheme.
However, it is not expected that every doctor will do so, as this will depend on patient demographics at each practice, and the ability of doctors to take on extra work.
It was also announced that here will also be supports to allow public access to IVF treatment for the first time and will begin next year.
Other health funding allocations announced today as part of Budget 2023 include:
- Total budget of €23.4bn
- Delivery of 650 acute and community beds by end of 2023
- Funding to recruit 6,000 additional staff to the health service
- €138m for disability services
- €150m to support older people living at home, national dementia strategy
- €58m for mental health
- €439m will be provided for the ongoing response to Covid-19
- €225m in extra money to tackle waiting lists
- €5m for oral health services
For more on Budget 2023 visit Beat News live blog on our website Beat102103.com.