This National Sexual Health Strategy is Ireland’s first national framework for sexual health and wellbeing. It has been developed in response to a recommendation of the National AIDS Strategy Committee (NASC) on the need to establish clear leadership within the health sector around the area of sexual health.

This Strategy reflects the many changes Ireland has experienced over the past 30 or so years regarding sexual behaviour and sexuality. This includes developments in Ireland’s legislative framework, the requirement to provide school-based sexual health education and, more broadly, society’s changing attitudes to sex and sexuality.

This Strategy is being published in the context of major reforms of the health service in its approach to the health and wellbeing of the population. Healthy Ireland – A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013–2025 recognises that many factors outside of the healthcare sector influence health. The ability to reach and maintain good health is shaped not only by individual lifestyle factors and genetics, but also by the environment within which we live. The Healthy Ireland Framework aims to address these factors and support the aims of the National Sexual Health Strategy in a wider context.