To ask the Minister of Health to detail any funding his Department has ring-fenced for the (i) production of; and (ii) fulfilment of the Women's Health Action Plan.

(i) There is no ringfenced funding currently available for the production of the Women's Health Action Plan. The Department has, however, provided funding of £20k to Derry Well Women (DWW) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) to support their large-scale public listening exercise on women’s health. This has delivered a NI Women’s Health Survey, which closed earlier this year, and focus groups are currently underway with hard to reach women and section 75 groups, thereby ensuring the findings are inclusive of all women. A final report will be produced by DWW / QUB which will provide important feedback for inclusion in the Action Plan.

(ii) There is no ringfenced funding available for the fulfilment of the Women's Health Action Plan. The Action plan seeks to bring together the range of ongoing developments in women’s health such as tackling gynae waiting lists, improving maternity safety and the Live Better work which addresses the health inequalities between different groups of women. Whilst some of this work is subject to available funding, there are ongoing initiatives that have funding attached, including for example £4.3m per annum for the delivery of enhanced contraception and abortion services and recent investment of £3.5m to expand gynaecology capacity.