Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alamy Stock Photo

Publicly-funded IVF to begin in 2023 with 'regional fertility hubs' before that

The Department of Health had previously been reluctant to provide a timeline for services.

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.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
12 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Haye
    Favourite David Haye
    Report
    Mar 20th 2022, 10:21 PM

    I know there’s a few of them in the Kremlin

    149
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stefan Epure
    Favourite Stefan Epure
    Report
    Mar 20th 2022, 10:29 PM

    @David Haye: St Patrick missed a few here too

    141
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Haye
    Favourite David Haye
    Report
    Mar 20th 2022, 10:43 PM

    @Stefan Epure: anybody in particular?

    13
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary Mullen
    Favourite Gary Mullen
    Report
    Mar 20th 2022, 10:52 PM

    @David Haye: the dail is full of them

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Irish Ranger
    Favourite The Irish Ranger
    Report
    Mar 20th 2022, 11:29 PM

    @David Haye: Such a band wagon comment. Yeah, what putin is doing is awful but what about all the snakes in the US government? No comments on them? Oh no wait a minute, your media has never said a bad word about them so they’re OK? Even though each and every president since Clinton was probably a war criminal too, probably before Clinton too. Anyway, as you were, carry on ridiculous, sorry I mean regardless.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Haye
    Favourite David Haye
    Report
    Mar 21st 2022, 12:50 AM

    @The Irish Ranger: cool story bro

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    Mar 21st 2022, 5:35 AM

    “How much do you know about snakes?” I know enough about them to stay away from them.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aurelio Na Fodhla
    Favourite Aurelio Na Fodhla
    Report
    Mar 20th 2022, 10:04 PM

    Sssslippery quiz

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sue O'Neill
    Favourite Sue O'Neill
    Report
    Mar 21st 2022, 1:16 AM

    Yup I know they are cold blooded and the myth of Staint Patrick, I know they shed their skin, that’s about it. But I got four right. I’m surprised

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Wilson
    Favourite Alan Wilson
    Report
    Mar 21st 2022, 8:34 AM

    Guessed 5 of the questions and got my first 10 ,Happy Days

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carrie Poettcker
    Favourite Carrie Poettcker
    Report
    Mar 21st 2022, 1:36 AM

    9/10. Maybe I should cut down on nature documentaries!

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe_X
    Favourite Joe_X
    Report
    Mar 21st 2022, 4:29 PM

    @Carrie Poettcker: likewise

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a comment

 
cancel reply
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds