Cabinet to Consider Pharmacist Contraception Prescribing, HFA Limit Increase, AI Investment

The Cabinet will consider legislation on Tuesday allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraception. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will seek approval to publish the Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026. Initially, a GP must prescribe the contraception, with repeat prescriptions then available at pharmacies. This service will be offered under the Free Contraception Scheme (FCS) for women aged 17-35, covering pills, patches, rings, implants, injections, and coils, and will also provide cost savings for non-FCS eligible patients.

Separately, Minister for Housing James Browne plans to increase the Housing Finance Agency’s (HFA) borrowing limit from €13.5 billion to €15 billion to support social and affordable housing. Ireland also intends to invest €10 million to €20 million in the EU’s AI Gigafactories initiative, with Minister for Higher Education James Lawless seeking approval for participation via a French AI gigafactory, aiming to reduce reliance on US or Chinese technology.

Tánaiste Simon Harris will update the Cabinet on mortgage arrears, which decreased from 42,000 at the end of 2024 to under 36,000 by the end of last year. The proportion of primary dwelling home mortgages over 90 days in arrears was 3.1% at year-end, the lowest since 2009. Additionally, Minister for Defence Helen McEntee will seek approval to extend Ireland’s participation in the Nato-led KFOR mission in Kosovo for 12 months, involving 13 Defence Forces personnel, and will present a new Defence Strategy Statement focusing on maritime security.