Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced full public funding for a cycle of IVF [1] (in vitro fertilisation) for eligible couples from September. The average success rate for people using IVF is only 25pc per cycle and it is strongly age dependent. The cost per cycle in Ireland is around €5,000.
IVF creates spare embryos which are often destroyed or indefinitely frozen if not used.
Asked why the funding is limited to one cycle, the Minister said “this is a first step”.
€10m was allocated in the Budget for IVF funding.
An age limit will be in place for a woman up to 41 years of age and men up to 60, Minister Donnelly said.
To be eligible individuals must be ordinarily resident in the State and referred through their GP to a regional fertility hub.
A couple or individual will not be eligible for publicly funded AHR treatment if either has had voluntary sterilisation.
To ensure the welfare of any children resulting from AHR treatment, an assessment will be carried out, based primarily upon a self-declaration form.
There shall not be more than two intending parents of a child born as a result of AHR treatment and, they shall be in a relationship for at least one year.