Period products could become freely available in state buildings such as schools and hospitals.
It's after a government report found thousands of women and girls across Ireland are at risk of "period poverty".
Just dropped a huge delivery of period products to the very appreciative Cross Care in Tallaght. All these products were donated by the public. Ye are all bleedin deadly 🙌🏼 #Positivity #EndPeriodPoverty pic.twitter.com/aV7Qm2gBrs
— Lynn Boylan 🍷📖🐾 (@LNBDublin) February 3, 2021
Up To 85,000 Women At Risk Of Period Poverty
Women and girls spend an average of €121 a year on period products.
So that consists of items such as tampons and sanitary towels and pain relief.
But it found up to 85,000 women may not be able to afford this amount.
Frank Feighan, the Minister of state for Public Health, says while details still have to be worked out, the government is looking at making period products free in state buildings.
"We're looking at maybe to engage with charities, with food banks serving vulnerable cohorts."
"Also maybe from State buildings that these products would be available free of charge."
"You're talking about a lot of various state buildings such as schools, hospitals, government offices."
HPI welcomes this paper as a milestone in what needs to be the beginning of the end of #periodpoverty in Ireland. We will continue to work with all involved and hope the next steps outlined in the report can start soon
1/2 pic.twitter.com/KWSn2XKOIN— Positive Period Ireland (@periodspositive) February 5, 2021
Ireland Should Follow UK Example
But Marie Lyons, the Vice President for Equality at the Union of Students in Ireland, said period products must be made free to all women.
"It is something where you can even see in the report, the cost of period products."
"That's a massive cost and a massive barrier to a number of people who menstruate."
"So it's so important that those are made available and made free."
"You can see other countries are making a move towards addressing this."
"Particularly our UK counterparts."
"So we need to address that quickly."
While the government will look at making period products free from state buildings, there is no timeline yet for when this could be rolled out.
