More than 10,000 abortions were reported in Ireland last year.
According to statistics, 10,445 abortions took place within 12 weeks of pregnancy, while 117 were took place due to the the unborn baby having a fatal foetal abnormality. It was also found that 25 patients had risks to their health, with 10 abortions carried out due to a risk to health or life in an emergency.
This figure is down from the numbers reported in 2024, with 10,852 abortions reported that year, bringing the total number to more than 65,000, since the laws were introduced in 2019.
Last year, it was found that the highest number of terminations were in January and May. The largest of abortions were reported in Co Dublin with 3,989, with Leitrim reporting the lowest with 54.
The release of this data comes amid the launch of the new Women's Health Action Plan for 2026-2027, which has promised a variety of measures including extending free contraception to older women in stages up to 2035. As it stands, the scheme covers women between the ages of 17 and 35.
This new plan is to also allow for the widening of the role of pharmacists to deliver contraception and allow women to access most of their repeat prescriptions for short acting contraception in their local pharmacy. Other parts of this plan will allow for GPs to deliver a women's health programme.
According to reports in The Irish Independent, Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said this new programme “sets out the next phase of work to improve access, outcomes and experiences”.
She also added that this will build on the significant progress made by the first plan, which was launched in 2020.
“Over €180m of additional funding has been invested in women’s health since 2020,” she said.
The minister continued: “This dedicated funding has resulted in new initiatives across the country – often the first of their kind, including the rollout of menopause clinics, ambulatory gynaecology services and postnatal hubs, nationwide free contraception and HRT for the symptoms of menopause and expanded endometriosis services".
Elsewhere, the Minister went on to say that this plan will also include enhanced early detection and prevention initiatives for cardiovascular disease in young women, as well as developing mental health supports for women suffering with endometriosis, and expanding specialist multi disciplinary eating disorder teams.
“The plan also provides for increased awareness and understanding of endometriosis, the expansion of the free period products scheme to additional locations and continued growth in the number of postnatal hubs,” Ms Carroll MacNeill said. “Looking ahead, it is informed by ongoing work to better understand women’s health needs across the life course, which will help inform future developments in a coherent and sustainable way".
“I am particularly pleased to launch this action plan during my visit to the Endometriosis Hub at Tallaght University Hospital. The hub reflects our strong commitment to improving care for women and girls with this condition", she added. “The development of specialist endometriosis services represents a fundamental shift towards earlier diagnosis, more co-ordinated care and better access to expert treatment".
