Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee has said Budget 2025 further underlines the commitment by Fianna Fáil in government to revolutionise women's healthcare.
The Fingal-based Senator, who is the party's Seanad Spokesperson on Health and has been selected as Fianna Fail’s General Election candidate in Fingal West, said:
"Improving menopause care has been a key priority of Fianna Fáil in government. I am delighted to see it confirmed in Budget 2025 by my party colleague Minister Donnelly that the state will provide free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to women.
"This will save women between €360 and €840 annually, significantly easing this financial burden.
"The rollout of free HRT will begin in January of next year, with the State funding the cost of medicines, patches and other devices such as coils. This follows on from the removal of VAT from HRT products in Budget 2023.
"Budget 2025 will also expand the the publicly funded IVF scheme. Just recently it was announced that over 1,200 couples have taken advantage of the scheme since it was first introduced a year ago, a real milestone that underlines the progress we have made in in supporting women's health.
"Couples requiring donor assistance will be able to access the scheme in 2025 and the criteria will be amended to allow couples who already have a child to apply.
"Budget 2025 underlines the progress made under Minister Donnelly to create a revolution in women’s health, changing mindsets and introducing sensible, modern healthcare to ensure Irish women have full control of their reproductive health."
-ENDS-