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Tuesday 25th July

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland Statement on Proposed Fertility Treatment Scheme: Government announcement on public support for fertility treatments scheme welcomed, but does not go far enough

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland notes the statement from the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, that a €10 million scheme to support fertility treatment will be launched in September. We further note that Ireland is the last country in Europe to provide comprehensive infertility treatment supports.

Infertility is one of the many challenges faced by people with CF and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) has been calling for public support for fertility treatment for a number of years - most of these concerns are likely to be shared by other (non-CF) couples experiencing infertility.

The limitations with the proposed scheme, as presently constituted, are as follows: 

  • The budget is inadequate. One round of IVF treatment costs €6,000 so potentially only 1000 couples needing IVF will benefit from this €10m scheme. An adequate budget needs to be provided early next year. 

  • Couples requiring IVF treatment will often require two or three more rounds. IVF treatment in Ireland costs €6,000 a round and the announced scheme only provides for one round. Funding for further rounds (such as the three rounds funded by the NHS in the UK) is essential for an adequate public scheme in Ireland.  

  • The cost of IVF treatment in Ireland is considerably more than that provided in most private hospitals in the UK and there will likely be a significant delay before IVF services are available in in Irish public hospitals - though CFI warmly welcomes the Minister’s ambition to provide fertility treatment in public hospitals announced today.

  • The budget is inadequate. One round of IVF treatment costs €6,000 so potentially only 1000 couples needing IVF will benefit from this €10m scheme. An adequate budget needs to be provided early next year. 

  • Only childless couples will benefit apparently. This rule is potentially discriminatory for many couples, but in particular for those who have CF, and again shows the lack of adequacy concerning the €10m budget announced today.

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland urges that the pilot-type scheme announced today is morphed into a comprehensive fertility scheme as soon as possible and acknowledges that this is also the wish of the Minister.