Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Health if 2019 is the earliest date that public funding can be provided for assisted human reproduction; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some persons are of the view that this may be too late for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43449/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Health if the roll-out of IVF treatment will be widened from persons with medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43478/17]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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354. To ask the Minister for Health when the subsidised funding for IVF will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43741/17]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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401. To ask the Minister for Health when funding will be made available to couples for IVF treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43969/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 286, 354 and 401 together.

On Tuesday 3 October 2017 the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill.

In relation to the issue of public funding and AHR treatment, I intend to revert to Government by the end of this year with proposals for a potential model of public funding for AHR treatment for the Government's consideration and decision.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Health Research Board's (HRB) evidence review of international public funding models for AHR was published earlier this year. This evidence review examines 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.

An analysis of the HRB evidence review will feed into the development of policy options for a potential public funding model for AHR treatment by my officials. This policy options paper will be presented to me by the end of this year and I will then submit these proposals to Government. It is important to note that any funding model that may ultimately be introduced would need to operate within the broader regulatory framework set out in the AHR Bill.