107. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide free period products in all secondary schools in Cork county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31010/26]

The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a commitment to provide free period products in schools to ensure no student is held back due to period poverty.

I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that the DEIS Plus Plan, which I announced on 25 March 2026, includes an allocation to fund period products for DEIS Plus schools for the 2026/2027 school year. There are 25 post primary and 96 primary schools included in this plan. Four of the post-primary schools are in Cork. Further allocations will be sought to expand provision in the future.

Arising from the work of the inter-departmental group led by the Department of Health, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) established a procurement framework that includes period products across Government departments and other bodies. During development of this Framework, at the request of my department, it was arranged that it could be accessed by any primary or post-primary school.

My department will continue to participate in the work of the inter-departmental group and work to ensure the Programme for Government commitment is progressed.