The HSE’s national women and infants health programme has recommended that women only be able to avail of home births if they live within 30 minutes of a maternity service. If this recommendation was implemented, it would eradicate the choice of home birthing for a large proportion of women living in Ireland. For example, in west Cork, where I am from, any woman living west of the town of Bandon would be affected, including in the towns of Clonakilty, Bantry and Skibbereen, and they would not be able to avail of a safe supervised home birth. My sister, who lives in New Zealand, has availed of four safe, successful home births. She lives an hour and a half from her nearest maternity service. We cannot allow this recommendation to be implemented. Women deserve choice and we need to ensure they have the choice of availing of a save home birth, no matter where they live in Ireland.

The Deputy will be aware that there is an unprecedented level of roll-out in maternity care, including midwifery-led care. The next phase is home birth. The service is now being supported and has been integrated into the hospitals. We are aware of the recommendation in respect of geography and it is a matter on which I am more than happy to continue the conversation with the HSE. This is occurring in the context of a very rapid expansion of maternity services, which is critically expanding choice for women as regards birthing options.