LAST YEAR, 25 legally-permitted abortions were carried out in Ireland, according to figures from the Department of Health.

The third annual report on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 has been handed to the Houses of the Oireachtas today as required under section 20 of the Act.

Of that total number, the procedures were carried out for a range of reasons:

8 procedures were due to a risk of physical illness

1 was due to a risk from suicide

16 were carried out because of emergencies arising from physical illnesses.

Estimates indicate, however, that around 3,500 Irish women travel to the UK every year to terminate their pregnancies – other estimates indicate it could be a third higher than that number.

According to the Department of Health, 26 terminations were carried out in 2015.