Government to help fund IVF treatment for couples struggling to conceive

The Government has set aside funding to help couples who struggle to conceive with the costs of IVF Credit: PA

The Irish Government has set aside funding for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment for couples unable to conceive, the Taoiseach has confirmed.

But Leo Varadkar said not all couples will receive funding as they will have to meet “certain criteria”.

IVF treatment is currently available only to private patients who struggle with fertility.

Mr Varadkar added that new legislation to introduce regulatory measures in the sector is behind schedule and getting it enacted by next year would be a “challenge”.

Around one in four couples in Ireland struggle with trying to have children, while it can cost thousands of euro for private IVF treatment.

Mr Varadkar said those working on the IVF legislation are also working on abortion laws and guidelines, which led to the delay.

He said: “When it comes to legislative priorities in health in the new year, setting up the CervicalCheck tribunal and Brexit legislation will be prioritised in the first quarter, so I expect to get that (IVF) legislation into the Oireachtas next year, (but) getting it enacted next year will be a challenge.

“So we are examining mechanisms by which we could help couples who need IVF or AHR (Assisted Human Reproduction) to meet some of those costs. We have set aside some funding for next year to do that.

“It is the case that we already provide some assistance – through the tax system, you can write off 20% of the cost against tax, and the medicines are covered under the DPS scheme.

“But couples who need IVF or need AHR do face very high costs and we’d like to be able to assist them in some way.”

He said the Government has set aside money to assist couples but it will be means-tested and they will have to make a contribution.

He added: “Obviously, you are going to prioritise somebody who has no children over somebody who already has children, and you are going to prioritise maybe younger women who for medical reasons can’t conceive as opposed to somebody who is in their 50s and 60s who wants to have a child, so there will have to be criteria and there will still be an out of pocket contribution, but we have set aside some funding next year to get that started.

“You don’t necessarily need the legislation to be passed because the treatment is available in Ireland, it is not illegal, so it will be funded.”