Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigi il” of 14th June, 2024.

I, STEPHEN DONNELLY, Minister for Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 6 7E(5) of the Health Act 1970 (No. 1 of 1970) (inserted by section 6 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act 2022 (No. 20 of 2022)), after consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of Further Age to Whom Contraceptive Services Will Be Made Available Without Charge) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

(2) The Principal Regulations, the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of further age to whom contraceptive services will be made available without charge) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 ( S.I. No. 408 of 2023 ), the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of Further Age to Whom Contraceptive Services Will Be Made Available Without Charge) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 ( S.I. No. 614 of 2023 ) and these Regulations may be cited together as the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of further age to whom contraceptive services will be made available without charge) Regulations 2022 to 2024.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on 1 July 2024.

3. In these Regulations, “Principal Regulations” means the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of further age to whom contraceptive services will be made available without charge) Regulations 2022 ( S.I. No. 675 of 2022 ).

4. The Schedule to the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the following paragraph:

“(3) Attained the age of 32 but not yet attained the age of 36”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

12 June, 2024.

STEPHEN DONNELLY,

Minister for Health.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

These Regulations are made under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Act 2022.

These Regulations amend the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of further age to whom contraceptive services will be made available without charge) Regulations 2022.

These Regulations provide for the extension of the free contraception scheme to women up to and including those aged 35.

The Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of further age to whom contraceptive services will be made available without charge) Regulations 2022 ( S.I. No. 675 of 2022 ), the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of further age to whom contraceptive services will be made available without charge) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 ( S.I. No. 408 of 2023 ), the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of Further Age to Whom Contraceptive Services Will Be Made Available Without Charge) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 ( S.I. No. 614 of 2023 ) and these Regulations may be cited together as the Health Act 1970 (Section 67E) (Prescription of further age to whom contraceptive services will be made available without charge) Regulations 2022 to 2024.