THERE is more support in Ireland than in Europe as a whole for a wide range of family planning services and information, according to a Europe-wide poll. Others with strong support for such services are Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands.
The poll was conducted in 13 European countries by MORI on behalf of the United Nations Population Fund, with the Irish survey carried out by Lansdowne Marketing. The Irish sample was 1,349 people in 70 locations. The results were revealed yesterday by the Irish Family Planning Association, simultaneously with other family planning organisations in other countries.
More than 71 per cent of Irish people support the provision of advice to teenagers on the avoidance of unwanted pregnancy, compared with 53.5 in Europe as a whole. But only 42 per cent support the provision of contraceptives to this age group, which is still higher than the European average of 38.7. The comparative figures for Britain are 67 and 46 per cent respectively.
Almost 20 per cent more Irish people than Europeans (66 per cent as against 48.7) want sex education programmes in schools.
Irish people are also more supportive of information on, and the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. Support for improved services for mothers is also higher.
Asked why Irish people were consistently scoring higher than the European average on such issues, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton, said it reflected 25 years of debate on these questions. "The survey also reflects the debate taking place in education and among parents' groups about sex education," she said.
Mr Tony O'Brien, IFPA chief executive, said the survey might reflect a need for family planning services in Ireland which was not being met.