Making contraception free for all women would cost the State €80m to €100m per year, according to a new report.

A working group on contraception has suggested three approaches to introducing free contraception in Ireland.

It comes after the Health Minister committed to making it free by 2021.

The first approach suggested by the report is to bring in free contraception for all women at a cost of between €80m to €100m per year.

The second approach suggests funding the consultation and insertion of long-acting reversible contraceptives – which would cost between €30m to €40m per year.

However the report points out that this would not reflect the fact that women have different contraceptive needs and preferences.

The final suggestion would cost €18m to €22m and would focus on women aged 17 to 24-years-old – who are considered more likely to be unable to afford contraception.

The report notes that the idea that there is a widespread affordability problem in Ireland when it comes to accessing contraception remains unproven.

Reporting from Kacey O'Riordan