Around €10 million to fund free contraception for young women will be part of the Government’s Budget announcement on Tuesday.
And funding will be given for the recruitment of an extra 8,000 frontline healthcare workers.
The Irish Mirror understands Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has secured the funding and it’s expected the free contraception scheme will be rolled out from July or August next year.
A source told the Irish Mirror that women aged between 17 and 25 years of age will be able to avail of the free contraception scheme.
The contraceptive pill will be free of charge but individuals will have to continue to pay the prescription charge.
A source also gave details on the plan for long term contraception for those women who choose another option.
They explained: “The pill itself will be free but people would have to continue to pay the prescription charge.
“The cost of fitting and removing chosen forms of long active reversible contraception such as implants will also be free.”
The Irish Mirror also understands that two GP consultations per year regarding contraception will also be free of charge for women in that age cohort.
The Budget will see a major slash in cash for Covid-19 after €2 billion was given towards fighting the pandemic this year.
Another source said the State has already pre-purchased Covid-19 vaccines and there isn’t a need for €2 billion adding “it will probably be halved.”
But “money will be there” for other Covid-19 measures such as PPE, testing and contact tracing.
It’s understood additional funding will be reallocated to tackling hospital waiting lists as there are estimates they could exceed 100,000 this winter.
The Irish Mirror also understands more funding will be allocated to recruit an additional 8,000 frontline healthcare workers.
The HSE will be funded to recruit the additional staff to help build up the health system.
While the Government is also likely to extend the free GP care scheme for children to all kids up to the age of seven as part of the Budget.
