Athlone sexual health clinic
Deputy Troy said Athlone lacked a sexual health clinic despite the national strategy's commitment to accessible regional services. The Minister of State said he would seek an update and pass it on.
A number of years ago the Government published a national sexual health strategy, which is a framework for the sexual health and well-being of the population. A key goal of this strategy was to have equitable, accessible and high quality sexual healthcare across the regions. In the midlands, more than 6,000 full-time students attend Athlone Institute of Technology, yet no sexual health clinic is located in Athlone. I have asked the Minister for Health by way of parliamentary question to address this and to honour the commitment in the Government's national framework. Funnily enough, the person who was asked to reply to this parliamentary question was a nurse based in Athlone, not the Minister. I understand the Tánaiste may not be able to answer this today but will he give a commitment to review the Government's national sexual health strategy with a view to ensuring that the midlands is not left without high quality and accessible sexual healthcare, particularly given the fact that 6,000 full-time students are attending Athlone Institute of Technology?
Comment on this
I am happy to get an update on that for the Deputy and to forward same to him.