Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Health the anticipated timeframe for providing supports for those persons undergoing IVF and associated treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11819/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Health the details of plans in his Department to support persons enduring fertility issues and that require a number of cycles of IVF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11818/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 117 together.

In February 2016, the Health Research Board (HRB) was engaged to conduct a comprehensive review of international public funding models for assisted human reproduction (AHR). This HRB evidence review is due to be published in the near future. The HRB evidence review will be analysed by officials in the Department of Health in the context of considering policy options for a potential public funding model for AHR treatment.

The final evidence review will be published on the websites of both the Department of Health and the HRB.

Separately to the evidence review being conducted by the HRB, officials in the Department of Health are currently drafting the General Scheme of legislative provisions on AHR and associated research. It is intended that the General Scheme will be completed by the end of June 2017. This comprehensive piece of legislation will regulate a range of practices for the first time, including: gamete (sperm or egg) and embryo donation for AHR and research; surrogacy; pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos; posthumous assisted reproduction; and stem cell research. The General Scheme will also provide for an independent regulatory authority for AHR.

Once the General Scheme has been completed, a memo will be submitted for Government approval, and once approved by Government, the General Scheme will be submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny.

It should be noted that while IVF treatment is not currently 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 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.