The Minister for Public Health says the service benefits those who would prefer not to attend a face-to-face service.
Over 10,000 home STI testing kits are being ordered every month.
Minister for Public Health Hildegarde Naughton says over 100,000 orders for free kits were made up to November of 2023, up from 91,000 for the whole of 2022.
Just over 900 people reported having HIV, MPox or an STI in the midlands last year, which was one of the lowest figures among regions in the country.
Of those who have availed of a testing kit in 2023, just over four in ten say they've never had an STI before.
Deputy Naughton says the service is successfully reaching key population groups, who prefer not to attend a face-to-face service.
She also says:
"I am delighted with the additional access that home STI testing provides, providing a discreet and confidential service for users, leading to quick diagnosis and intervention for those that have a reactive test result.
It’s providing increased opportunities for diagnosis and treatment which is particularly important in the context of rising STI rates, both nationally and internationally.
"The service illustrates the Government’s prioritisation of sexual health and wellbeing, and we have been making great progress implementing delivering and expanding additional services that support everyone’s sexual health; including through the free contraception scheme and the National Condom Distribution Service.
Funding for the STI home testing service totalled €3,550,000 in 2023 and I’m delighted that this has been increased to €4.27 million in 2024 which will help us to meet demand."
Mental Health Charity Launches Festive Support Groups Over Christmas
Midlands Man Acquitted Of Father’s Murder On Grounds Of Insanity
I Hope My Son Has A Farm To Come Home To - IFA President
Ticket Prices Set To Rise For National Ploughing Championships
Taoiseach Warns Of Threats To Energy And Communication Cables
Irish Farmers To Join EU-Wide Protest In Brussels
Four Men Released Without Charge After Midlands Prison Assault Arrests
Community Mourns Mary Holt As Colleagues Lead Funeral Procession In Edenderry
Calls Grow For 24 Hour Garda Station In Edenderry After Arson Attack
Appeal Date Set For Jozef Puska Over Murder Of Ashling Murphy
Offaly Town Demands Meeting With Garda Commissioner And Justice Minister
Ireland’s First Kidney Pancreas Transplant Recipient Dies Aged 68
Quality Of Life To Drive Offaly’s Appeal For Foreign Investment - Anna Marie Delaney
Hundreds Of Mourners Gather For Tadgh Farrell's Funeral
Dancing With The Stars ‘A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity’ - Rose Of Tralee
Uisce Éireann To Submit €6b Water Project Plan
Pedestrian Killed In Midlands Crash
Maura Higgins Set For Traitors US
Man Taken To Hospital Following Alleged Westmeath Assault