Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1097. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe for infertility services at secondary level to have been developed across the country and the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2019 commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17249/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated research is ongoing by officials in my Department in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General.

The publication of the AHR Bill is a priority for my Department and the Government, and a commitment to enact this legislation is included in the Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future

In relation to your query regarding infertility services at secondary level, as you will be aware there is also a commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a model of care for infertility. This model of care was developed by officials in my Department in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme and will ensure that infertility issues will be addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.

Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care has commenced and involves the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs in maternity networks. which will facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with infertility issues. Funding of €2m was provided to the HSE to commence Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care in 2020. This was utilised specifically in respect of the development of the first four Regional Fertility Hubs – namely, Cork Maternity University Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital.

Additional funding of just over €1m has been made available to enable the continuation of Phase One of the roll-out in 2021, including through the setting-up of the final two Regional Fertility Hubs, to be located in Galway and Limerick.

Phase Two of the roll-out will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system. Phase Two will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country, required resources have been allocated, and the AHR legislation is commenced. It is intended that, in line with available resources, this model of care for infertility will be rolled out on a phased basis over the course of the coming years.