As the Tánaiste is aware, IVF treatment is provided through private practice. I have been contacted by couples in Wexford who are very concerned about this issue. We know that the most precious resource in any country is its children. We know that one in four couples struggles to start a family. However, IVF costs at least €5,000 and up to €9,000 with add-ons, which puts financial strain on many couples who are desperate to begin a family. Is the Government willing to subsidise at least three cycles of IVF? Would it be possible to include this in the next budget? What has happened to the €3 million that was supposed to have been set aside by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, for this purpose in 2017?

IVF treatment and assisted human reproduction treatment are tax deductible at the standard rate and most of the medicines people may need to help them in their treatment are covered under the drug refund scheme. That still leaves couples bearing a very large cost if they need to avail of IVF services. Money has been set aside to help people with the cost of IVF, to do it through the public system. The last I heard was that it was the strong view of the Department of Health that we should introduce a law regulating this area first because this treatment is not regulated in Ireland at the moment, which causes significant difficulties. The view is that the legislation should be brought forward giving us a clear law on what is allowed and what is not, and then fund treatment on that basis.