Last year saw a notable rise in the number of abortions in Ireland, reaching 10,033 procedures, marking the highest since the enactment of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, which facilitated easier access to termination services. In comparison, 8,156 terminations were reported in 2022 under the same legislation.
According to the annual report released by the Department of Health, the breakdown of abortions in 2023 included 21 procedures due to a risk to the life or health of the mother under Section 9 of the Act. Additionally, seven terminations were conducted in emergency situations involving life or health risks, while 129 were due to fatal foetal abnormalities. The majority, 9,876 abortions, were medical terminations carried out in early pregnancy.
The report highlighted that the months with the highest number of terminations were May (902), January (878), and March (874), with February recording the fewest notifications at 683.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) reported that two applications for review of termination were received and carried out in compliance with legal requirements last year.
Geographically, Dublin recorded the highest number of terminations at 3,645, followed by Cork with 873, while Leitrim and Monaghan reported the lowest figures at 47 and 74, respectively.
Meanwhile, new figures released by the HSE indicate that the annual cost of providing medical abortions through GPs and hospitals has reached €7.4 million. This includes €5.6 million allocated for GP payments and medications, with €1.7 million spent on hospital-based terminations.
The HSE noted that these costs represent the first detailed funding allocation for abortion services since the enactment of the 2018 legislation, which permits unrestricted medical abortion up to twelve weeks through GP services, as well as terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.
In response to Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins, the HSE disclosed that community-based termination costs in 2022 amounted to €5.6 million, covering GP fees, medications, training, the My Options freephone helpline, and translation services. Hospital-based termination costs for the same period totaled €1.78 million.
Moreover, the HSE reported a 55% increase in hospitals offering termination services in 2023, with six additional facilities joining the network. Currently, termination services in early pregnancy are available in 17 out of the 19 maternity hospitals, with plans for the remaining two to commence operations this year.