A campaign to delay early sexual activity by teenagers is to be introduced as part of the State's latest strategy to reducing the number of crisis pregnancies.
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency today published its new five-year strategy, which also aims to reduce the number of women who choose to have abortions.
Minister for Health Mary Harney
CPA director Caroline Spillane said that as well as developing resources for parents, the agency will be working in partnership with the Department of Education and Science and the HSE to ensure that all post-primary schools will deliver the Relationships and Sexuality Education Programme over the next five years.
"Along with these practical steps, the agency will deliver policy proposals to the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Finance on how the cost of contraception can be minimised in order to ensure consistent contraceptive use by sexually active young men and women."
The agency plans a two year campaign aimed at delaying early sexual activity by adolescents and a three-year marketing campaign on consistent and effective contraceptive use.
A DVD and booklet is available to parents of 11-15 year olds to help them to communicate with their children about sex and relationships. Over 53,000 of these packs have been distributed to parents and parents' groups in 2007, the CPA said.
The new strategy will also aim to improve the sexual health information available to asylum seekers and will promote the availability of free post-abortion medical and counselling services.
Ms Spillane said CPA will plan quality assurance measures for such crisis pregnancy counselling services.
She said the agency will also continue its work to improve workplace policies which are an "important factor in crisis pregnancy decision making".
"Research confirms that decisions to continue a pregnancy and decisions to continue in work are significantly influenced by workplace policy and culture," Ms Spillane said.
Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney said the CPA has already made a very effective contribution to reducing the incidence of crisis pregnancy.
"I hope that we continue to see a reduction in the incidence of crisis pregnancy. Those who do experience crisis pregnancies deserve to be responded to in a caring, compassionate and supportive way," she said.