HSE Period Poverty Pilot

Period poverty is when someone can't afford, or access, suitable period products.

The HSE National Social Inclusion office (NSIO) in 2022 instigated a pilot, demand led, period dignity scheme in partnership with HSE Community Health Area 5 (South Tipperary, Carlow/Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford) for Traveller and Roma women. The aim of the project is to reduce period stigma and distribute free period products.

The NSIO is working with the Department of Health and key stakeholders in the HSE to implement the project in CHO5 and a working group was established in January 2022. The scheme was extended to other Community Health Organisation areas in the second half of 2022. Learnings from the pilot will inform a national roll out of the scheme in 2023.

The free period product pilot aims to progress the key recommendations from the ‘Period Poverty in Ireland’ Report.

Downloadable posters for the scheme are available:

English red period poster

English pink period poster

Irish red period poster

Irish pink period poster

Czech red period poster

Czech pink period poster

Romanian red period poster

Romanian pink period poster

Last updated on: 15 / 11 / 2022