Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1010. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to roll out an IVF scheme for persons with cystic fibrosis genes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37578/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1027. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the IVF scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37618/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1249. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to support an IVF scheme for couples with cystic fibrosis genes; the measures his Department is taking to support those with CF and to help prevent instances of CF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38643/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1010, 1027 and 1249 together.

As the Deputies may be aware, 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). The completed HRB evidence review was published in March of this year on both the Department of Health’s and the HRB's websites.

This evidence review examines the public funding mechanisms for AHR in different countries. The review looks at the associated costs and benefits for the funder, provider and patient, the criteria for accessing the public funded service and the basis for these criteria in different jurisdictions. The review does not indicate a recommendation or preference for a specific funding model or for eligibility criteria for accessing funding; rather it outlines the pros and cons of such funding models, the different aspects of models in different jurisdictions, as well as the different rationales underpinning such funding models.

The HRB evidence review will be analysed by officials in my Department in the context of considering policy options for a potential public funding model for AHR treatment. It should be noted that any funding model that might ultimately be introduced would need to operate within the broader regulatory framework relating to AHR.

Work on the General Scheme of an AHR Bill is well advanced in my Department and this comprehensive piece of legislation will encompass the regulation of a range of practices, including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos. I consider this and the development of policy on public funding for AHR treatment to be a priority for 2017.