Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the prohibitive costs of IVF treatment, that is, in the region of €4,000, and that this cost is beyond the reach of majority of people; her plans to ensure that this treatment is affordable to those who need it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15471/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction, CAHR, was established in March 2000. Its terms of reference were: "To prepare a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all aspects of assisted human reproduction and the social, ethical and legal factors to be taken into account in determining public policy in this area". The CAHR was comprised largely of persons with expert knowledge spanning medical, scientific, social and legal domains; this expertise was a prerequisite to a precise examination of the issues concerned.

The report of the commission was published on 12 May 2005. The Government referred the report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children to consider and report in due course on the recommendations of the commission. The report remains under consideration by the joint committee and the conclusion of the committee's deliberations on this matter is an essential step before any policy proposals, including direct funding of IVF treatment, are considered.

The Deputy may wish to note that persons undergoing IVF treatment are eligible for tax relief on medical expenses, and that the drugs payment scheme covers a number of drugs used as part of fertility treatment.