Plans to provide a publicly-funded IVF service in State hospitals for the first time are to be announced today. It has not been specified whether this will include funding donor-assisted IVF and surrogacy, or whether it will be restricted to those suffering from fertility problems, and whether it will extend to same-sex couples who have no natural means of conceiving children.

The service is likely to come into operation in 2021 after legislation on assisted human reproduction is passed.

Other fertility services currently available in public hospitals are to be widened next year as part of a €2 million initiative while the publicly-funded IVF system is awaited.

Ireland and Lithuania remain the only two EU countries not to offer state funding for assisted reproduction.

Mr Harris is due to update the Cabinet on Thursday on the drafting of a legislative framework for assisted human reproduction.