Budget 2022 has seen €31 million euro allocated to fund women’s health initiatives. Chair of the Oireachtas Women’s Caucus, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has welcomed the prioritisation of women’s health in this budget.
Senator O’Loughlin said “As Chair of the Oireachtas Women’s Caucus, I could not be happier to see the investment and prioritisation of women’s healthcare in this budget. For too long women’s healthcare was side lined, and many women suffered in silence. I am delighted to see Minister Stephen Donnelly tackling this issue head on, and allowing for these vital supports to be delivered by his department”
“Huge strides have been made in this budget, with free contraception being made available to all women between the ages of 17 and 25, something my Female Fianna Fail Senate colleagues have been working incredibly hard on in recent times. Period poverty is not something that any Irish woman should have to endure, and it is great to see the Government providing funding to tackle the issue”
“The national maternity strategy will also receive increased resources for consultants in obstetrics and neonatology to further support in the implementation of the National Maternity strategy, a pillar of women’s healthcare in this country”
“I was particularly pleased to see Minister Donnelly deliver on his commitment to fund additional regional menopause clinics. He announced in September a Specialist Menopause clinic at the National Maternity Hospital Dublin, the first of its kind in Ireland which will provide specialist guidance and advice for women experiencing menopause. Minister Donnelly gave commitments at that time that additional regional clinics would be catered for, and I am glad that as a result of my advocacy, and the advocacy of others that clinics will be established in Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Cork”
“Women generally live one third of their lives post menopause. The quality of that third of their lives very much depends on the support and treatments they receive during the menopause- with 80% of women have a difficult menopause. In the past women have been denied treatment and given incorrect treatment. We need to change that for women who will go through the menopause in future, and these clinic are a huge step in the right direction for women. This will be a vital service, and one that we have needed for some time.”
Fiona concluded “I want to commend Minister Donnelly for his commitment to women’s health issues, and for tackling them head on. I look forward to continuing to work him to further improve women’s access to vital female specific healthcare into the future”