Three Galway women a week travelled to the UK to have a termination last year, a 12% decrease on the year before.
Figures published by the UK Department of Health show 156 women listed their address in Galway – down from 175 in 2014.
In 2013 the British Department of Health put the number at 133 while in 2012 it was 138.
Between the years 2008 and 2011, 726 women with addresses in Galway made the journey to England or Wales for a termination, which worked out at an average of over three women per week.
The numbers travelling for a termination are likely to be higher as some women choose not to disclose their home address to the clinics, using a British address instead.
The growing popularity of abortion pills procured illegally online is also contributing to the decline in those travelling, according to the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA).
Abortion rates are coming down right across Europe, which was due to better access to contraception, better sexuality education as well as abortion pills.
“It is important to note that this figure is an underestimation – not all women provide Irish addresses at UK clinics for reasons of confidentiality or otherwise; some women travel to other countries for abortion services; and some women access the abortion pill online,” said a spokesperson.
“We have no numbers on how many women in Ireland access the abortion pill but we know from our services that it is being increasingly used.”
Anti-abortion groups attribute the improvement in the figures to improved supports and better education about “the reality of abortion”.
The abortion pill is illegal in the Republic of Ireland. The emergency contraceptive pill is not illegal and both the 3 and 5-day pill are available from pharmacies without a prescription.
In total, 3,451 Irish residents had terminations in England and Wales last year, equating to roughly nine women every day, and a 48% fall in the number of women travelling to Britain to end a pregnancy since 2001.
Most travelled from Dublin (1,311), followed by Cork (280) and then Galway (156).
The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme provides free counselling services for women experiencing crisis pregnancies, as well as free post-abortion medical check-ups and therapy.
The new minority government has made no commitment to loosening abortion laws.
In its programme for government, it said it would establish a citizens’ assembly that will make recommendations to the Dáil on constitutional changes, including on the Eighth Amendment.
The Amendment acknowledges the right to life of the unborn, equating it with the mother’s right to life. When it was passed 31 years ago with a 67% majority, it was heralded as a victory for anti-abortion activists.
Since its introduction, clauses have been added that state the Eighth Amendment cannot limit a person’s freedom to travel abroad, or her “right of information” of legal abortion services in other states.
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act was passed in 2013 which allowed for women to have an abortion, but under very strict circumstances and having been seen by a panel of experts.
Former Minister for Health Leo Varadkar revealed that 26 terminations were carried out under the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act in 2014 – three terminations were carried out based on the risk to the life of the mother by suicide, 14 due to the risk from physical illness and nine based on an emergency situation from physical illness.
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