Free IVF treatment 'transformative' says Laois Minister

The announcement of free IVF treatment for Irish couples with no children has been praised as "transformative" by Laois TD Sean Fleming, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Free fertility services will be publicly funded from September for couples who are eligible.

"Fianna Fáil's commitment to introduce a publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment is soon to become a reality for the thousands of couples experiencing infertility.

"I am glad to say it is now finally being delivered by Fianna Fáíl Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly.

"It represents a transformative step where the dream of parenthood becomes a reality for every aspiring parent, irrespective of their financial status.

"Work is continuing on the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill which will allow Government to improve accessibility to Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) treatments. I look forward to this Bill progressing and ultimately seeing AHR services being expanded to wider categories so that we can help more people to fulfil their wish of starting a family," Minister Fleming said.

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Eligible patients will be entitled to one full cycle of IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment which will be initially provided in HSE-approved private clinics of their choice.

To be eligible for publicly funded treatment, couples must be resident in Ireland and be referred to a Regional Fertility Hub through their GP.  They must be in a relationship for at least one year and have no children from this relationship.

Some people will not be considered eligible, including patients with no known clinical cause of infertility, women over 41 and men over 59. Women must also have a BMI of between 18.5 and 30.