Did you find what you were looking for?
Find what you were looking for?
Help us improve AI search results by giving your feedback (3-5 mins).
Minister Carroll MacNeill and Minister Murnane O’Connor launch the Third National Women’s Health Action Plan
-
From: Department of Health
- Published on:
- Last updated on:
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, today launched the Third National Women’s Health Action Plan (2026–2027) in Tallaght University Hospital, alongside a visit to the hospital’s Endometriosis Hub. The visit highlighted the significant progress being made in expanding access to specialist endometriosis care as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to improving women’s health services.
The new Action Plan sets out the next phase of work to improve access, outcomes and experiences, building on significant progress since the first Action Plan was launched in 2020. Over €180 million of additional funding has been invested in women’s health since 2020, supporting the two previous Women’s Health Action Plans. This dedicated funding has resulted in new initiatives across the country – often the first-of-their-kind, including the rollout of menopause clinics, ambulatory gynaecology services and postnatal hubs, nationwide free contraception and HRT for the symptoms of menopause and expanded endometriosis services.
During this third phase, the Department of Health will continue to listen to, invest in and deliver for women, building on the Department’s knowledge of women’s health through research and innovation as well as spotlighting key areas including endometriosis and cardiovascular health.
Measures under the Action Plan include the development of a Women’s Health Programme in General Practice, enhanced early detection and prevention initiatives for cardiovascular disease in young women, the expansion of specialist multidisciplinary eating disorder teams, and the development of mental health supports for women living with endometriosis.
The Plan also provides for increased awareness and understanding of endometriosis, the expansion of the free period products scheme to additional locations, and continued growth in the number of postnatal hubs. Looking ahead, the Plan is informed by ongoing work to better understand women’s health needs across the life course, which will help inform future developments in a coherent and sustainable way.
Launching the Action Plan today, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, said:
“The publication of our Third Women’s Health Action Plan marks another important step in our commitment to ensuring women receive timely, high-quality healthcare at every stage of life. While significant progress has been made in recent years, we know there is more to do, and this Action Plan sets out a clear roadmap to continue improving services and outcomes for women.
"I am particularly pleased to launch this Action Plan during my visit to the Endometriosis Hub at Tallaght University Hospital. The hub reflects our strong commitment to improving care for women and girls with this condition. The development of specialist endometriosis services represents a fundamental shift towards earlier diagnosis, more coordinated care and better access to expert treatment.
"Through continued investment, stronger clinical pathways and by listening to the experiences of women themselves, we are building a health service that better recognises, understands and responds to women's health needs. This Action Plan reaffirms our commitment to delivering lasting improvements so that every woman can access the care she needs, when she needs it.”
Also launching the Action Plan today Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, said:
“I welcome the publication of the Women’s Health Action Plan 2026–2027, which reflects the voices and experiences of women and sets out ambitious measures to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities. I am particularly pleased to see actions to address period poverty, raise awareness of breastfeeding and provide supports to improve breastfeeding rates, support women who use drugs through gender-sensitive services, enhance healthcare for women in prison and improve supports for marginalised women. This is about ensuring that every woman can access the care and support she needs.”
Minister for Mental, Health Mary Butler TD, said:
"I warmly welcome the publication of the Women’s Health Action Plan 2026–2027, which includes a strong focus on women’s mental health and wellbeing. The plan reaffirms my commitment to further develop our specialist perinatal mental health services which are already available in all 19 maternity hospitals, and to progress the establishment of a dedicated Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit.
“The Action Plan also recognises the importance of ensuring mental health services are responsive to the needs of women through the development of a Gender-Sensitive Toolkit and the continued embedding of trauma-informed approaches. These actions build on the new Suicide and Self-Harm Reduction Strategy which I published in May, and the continued expansion of specialist multidisciplinary eating disorder teams.
“Together, these actions will help ensure that women can access the supports and services they need at every stage of life, fostering better mental health outcomes and reducing inequalities across our communities."
Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell TD, welcomed the social care supports included in the Action Plan:
“I welcome the publication of the Women's Health Action Plan 2026–2027. As Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, I am particularly pleased to see a commitment to increasing community-based social care supports for older women living alone, helping them to remain living at home. This recognises the important role that social inclusion, social connectedness and accessible supports play in promoting health and wellbeing as we age.”
Killian McGrane, Director of the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) welcomed the launch of the Action Plan:
“Today’s publication is further evidence of the Minister’s ongoing commitment to women’s health. The changes brought about by the successive Women’s Health Action Plans, with a focus on research, education and service delivery, have laid solid foundations for changing how women’s health is understood and provided.”
Notes
The Third National Women’s Health Action Plan (2026–2027) can be accessed here.