Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Minister for Health the status of legislation relating to infertility; if the heads of the Bill have been agreed; if the Bill will examine governance of the sector; if medical card patients may be accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18030/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In February of this year I received Government approval to draft the General Scheme of a Bill for assisted human reproduction, which will include provisions relating to numerous different aspects from the beginning to the end of the assisted human reproduction process. There will be a number of provisions relating to the establishment of an independent regulatory authority to monitor compliance with the law.

Following the completion of the draft General Scheme (by the end of 2015), I intend to submit the Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for pre-legislative scrutiny. In addition, my Department will conduct a widespread consultation on the draft General Scheme during which stakeholders and members of the public will be invited to share their views.

As I have previously stated it is currently not the case that the public funding of fertility treatments will be included as part of these provisions. While I would favour public funding of fertility treatments in principle there are many other pressing funding demands on the health service at this time.

Although in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.