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THE DEPARTMENT OF Health is planning to fund IVF services from 2023, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin saying today that “regional fertility hubs” will be established before that.
A public fund which promised financial support for people undergoing fertility treatment was first announced in 2017, with commitments to fund IVF also contained in the Programme for Government.
Earlier this year, the government published the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill which will provide a basis for infertility services but no strict timeline for public IVF was provided.
It has now been confirmed by the Department of Health that it is hoped this would come on stream in 2023.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Martin said Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly increased funding for women’s health in this year’s Budget.
The minister intends to have a model of care for infertility, which will see the introduction of advanced assisted human reproduction treatments, including IVF, in the public health system. Mr Donnelly plans to commence this in 2023.
Currently, Ireland is the only country in the European Union where fertility treatments such IVF are not publicly funded.
Martin was speaking in the Dáil today in response to questions from People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who has spoken publicly about the cost of IVF treatments for himself and his partner.
Murphy noted that there have been promises from previous governments about IVF funding and that he was doubtful whether it would happen next year.
“I don’t want to hold my breath about it, because we have heard this before, from the then minister for health Leo Varadkar in 2016, it’s in Sláintecare, it’s in the Programme for Government and there has been precious little progress,” he said.
So I’m asking Taoiseach for a guarantee that this is actually going to happen in 2023 and a timeframe for when that will be within that year. I’m also asking for a commitment that sufficient funding will be provided for the public system to ensure it can be done publicly, as opposed to outsourced private, mostly for-profit providers.
The question of the private companies profiting from infertility treatments is one that has been investigated by Noteworthy, with some private facility clinics reporting profits of well over €1 million in financial statements.
Speaking today, Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond also told the Dáil that publicly available IVF must be matched but statutory employee leave to attend appointments.
“What preparatory work has begun in relation to ensure that both parents will be eligible for leave dates and sick leave dates during this period, that eligibility will be inclusive of all of society?,” he said.
Can we ensure that this process will be open and accessible to all very quickly because the uncertainty is already playing on so many hearts and minds of people around the country.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin noted that the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill passed its second stage in March and continues to work its way through the Oireachtas.
“Phase One of the rollout of the model of care has involved the establishment at secondary care level of regional fertility hubs within maternity networks in order to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of people presenting infertility issues at this level of intervention,” he said.
Phase Two of the rollout will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system planned for 2023 at such time as infertility serves a secondary level services have been developed across the country.
“The key legislation, the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill, passed second stage on 23 March, has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for third stage. It’s important to get that through to create the legislative base.”
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My heart seriously goes out to those for whom it just doesn’t happen. It’s so unfair. I wish all couples the very best.
Will something be done about the fact that it’s so difficult to make the decision in the other direction and get sterilised, as a woman? I’m 6 years trying, and keep getting told I’m too young, and that I need to have children first. I’ve never wanted to have children. And why am I old enough to decide I want them, but not old enough to decide I don’t?
BTW, I’m not even looking for anything free or subsidised, like I’d get if I was wanting to become a mother. I just want it made easier to make a decision about my body, as an adult.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: wow, that’s unbelievable. I wish you all the very best.
Best of luck to those waiting for these funds . Looking at it though it will probably take a few more years to get off the ground knowing our Government
@Maurice O Neill: is there anything your not an expert on?
@Dave Connolly: you’re. Grammar not your expertise
@Maurice O Neill: It’ll probably be a different government by then so we’ll get to blame a different set of politicians.
@Mickey Finn: Doubt it, people have been voting the same shower for the last 50 plus years
Will there be additional funding to clean the air, water and soil to ensure pollution won’t negatively impact on the fertility process? There must be reasons for declining birthrates among those who want to be parents..we were at families of 10 only a generation or two ago. Hopefully they’ll sort out the housing situation as well. Only reason the government is considering funding for this now is because of the narrowing demographic.. meaning we won’t have enough workers or tax-take to fund retirements in 20 years time.
@Tara: the fact that a huge number of 20/30 years olds have to live with ma and da is probably getting in the way of a fair amount of riding. The rest paying half their income in rent probably realise having kids might not be the smartest decision when they’re barely keeping themselves off the streets.
The key words being “it is hoped”. God forbid there’d be an actual plan in place.
Hope 2023 means 2033
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