Almost 5,000 women gave Irish addresses at abortion clinics in the United Kingdom and Netherlands last year, new figures revealed today.
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency revealed a 31 per cent drop in the numbers travelling to Britain for a termination over the last seven years.
Its annual report for 2008 found the number of women giving Irish addresses at abortion clinics in the United Kingdom was 4,600, down from 4,686 in 2007, and from 6,673 in 2001.
In the Netherlands the figure was 331 last year compared to 451 in 2007. There is no data before 2005.
However, data showed a 12.6 per cent rise in women undergoing free post-abortion medical check-ups funded by the agency in 2008.
The organisation unveiled a major campaign to highlight groups it claims seek to manipulate women into making decisions by providing disingenuous counselling.
Chairwoman Katharine Bulbulia said the agency now plans to address the issue of services that have a hidden agenda.
“The agency is aware of the existence of organisations that provide services which can involve a hidden agenda and who attempt to manipulate the decision a woman might make,” said Ms Bulbulia.
“The agency is strongly encouraging women to use services that provide high-quality counselling. These include those funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and services provided by GPs and other reputable health care providers who have specific training and expertise.”
Since it was established in 2001, the agency said there has been 20 per cent drop in the number of births to teenagers and 46 per cent fall in teenagers travelling to the UK for abortion.
The organisation has redeveloped its website, positiveoptions.ie, which provides comprehensive details of crisis pregnancy counselling services funded by the agency.
It is also making plans to improve the availability and accessibility of post-abortion services.
Minister for Health Mary Harney commended the service on its education, public awareness and policy making.
“The agency has, since its inception, made significant progress in addressing an issue which we now know affects one in every five women aged 18-34,” said Ms Harney.
PA