Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1049. To ask the Minister for Health if he has made a decision with respect to the provision of public funding for AHR in conjunction with the introduction of the planned legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24508/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In February of this year my colleague Deputy Leo Varadkar, the then Minister for Health, announced his intention to provide public funding for assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment in conjunction with the introduction of specific legislation in this area. In order to determine the most appropriate funding model for AHR in the State, based on existing evidence, Minister Varadkar engaged the Health Research Board (HRB) to conduct a comprehensive review of international public funding models. This HRB evidence review is due to be completed before the end of 2016.

Separately to this evidence review, officials in my Department are currently drafting a General Scheme of legislative provisions dealing with AHR and associated research. Once the General Scheme is completed and the AHR legislation is subsequently enacted, the Government will be in a position to provide fertility treatments based on the best model of funding for Ireland.