‘Period poverty’ is a financial burden to women - Cllr

IN a State as well off as ours it is unacceptable that anyone should be unable to, or struggle to, buy sanitary products.

That’s a the view of Sinn Féin Councillor Chris MacManus who raised the issue of ‘period poverty’ at the October Council meeting last week.

“I am asking that the Government commit the Department of Health to work towards the principle that sanitary products should be accessible to those who need them,” he proposed.

According to PLAN Ireland, a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls, nearly 50 per cent of teenage girls across Ireland continuously struggle to afford sanitary products month-onmonth. In addition, PLAN also reported that 61 per cent of those surveyed have missed school because of their period.

“Such a situation is demeaning, dehumanising, and a completely unacceptable reality,” he said.

“While Ireland has a zero-rated VAT on sanitary products for women, many women who are on low income, homeless or in Direct Provision are still unable to afford them.

“We in Sinn Féin believe that the first step on the road to free sanitary products should be their provision to all second and third level students as well as all those in receipt of a medical card,” he said.

Independent Cllr Declan Bree seconded the motion.

Fine Gael Cllr Sinead Maguire said she would query the stats and said the cost of sanitary products had come down.