Women in the 32 to 35 year age bracket can avail of free contraception from today.

It means all women from the age of 17 to 35 are now covered under the scheme which came into effect in 2022.

€48 million has been spent so far on the initiative with more than 189,000 women accessing services since its implementation.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he would like to eventually extend the scheme further.

“Ultimately, what I’d love to do is make the free contraception scheme available to all women from the age of 16 or 17 up,” he said. 

“Because it costs so much money to fund, the hope would be that it would available to all women and it’s an important step today to move up now to include 32, 33, 34 and 35 [year-olds] as well.” 

Stephen Donnelly speaks to journalists ahead of a cabinet meeting at the Government Buildings in Dublin.

Minister Donnelly described it as a “very inclusive” scheme and said the feedback from women who use it has been positive so far. 

“It includes consultations with your General Practitioner, the medicines, any devices [and] the costs of fitting any devices,” he said. 

“Certainly, the feedback we’re getting is very strong from women who are using the scheme and delighted that it’s free and also delighted that to be able to get into their GP to have a discussion.” 

Last year, the State also introduced free IVF for families in certain circumstances.

Main image: File photo of condoms. Image: Niall Carson/PA Archive/PA Images. Image: 15-04-2009