A Roscommon based Community Midwife says her association would like to see the HSE provide a commitment to making the Home Birth service available nationally.
The present service whereby the HSE will fund a Home Birth service for a woman if she chooses, is only available in parts of the country where there are enough self-employed midwives to operate it.
Two midwives have to be available for the birth, and Aisling Dixon says that means that at present there are over 30 women in the west of Ireland who would like to have a home birth but can't due to lack of numbers.
Around 250 women opted for the homebirth service in recent years.
Aisling Dixon says there's been an increase in demand of up to 50% in some areas due to the pandemic restrictions.
She says the Community Midwives Association which she works with would like see the service available for any women who chooses it.
