The programme for Government commits the Government to implement in full the maternity strategy. I refer specifically to the clause in the strategy which states, "All women must have equal access to standardised ultrasound services, to accurately date the pregnancy, to assess the foetus for ultrasound diagnosable anomalies as part of a planned prenatal foetal diagnostic service, and for other indications if deemed necessary".

As it stands, access to these anomaly scans is a bit of a postcode lottery. Women really need to know they will be able to access this. The Government has given them a commitment but, as ever, its words seem to have very little meaning. When will we see the routine availability of 20 week scans? They are not offered routinely now nor are they available in every maternity hospital.

There is dedicated funding for the development of the maternity strategy in the HSE service plan which was announced yesterday. The original strategy, when it was announced, envisaged a programme of investment over a number of years.