AQW 35642/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 17/11/2025
Answered On Date: 02/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on delivery of three rounds of IVF, as set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Answer:

I remain fully supportive of the New Decade, New Approach commitment to provide up to three funded cycles of IVF. You may be aware it was included following a request by my party.

Although the expansion in 2024 to one full cycle was welcomed, it was not possible to expand the service further due to funding constraints.

My Department is continuing to work with the Regional Fertility Centre to explore the feasibility of expanding current capacity from within available resources. This is extremely challenging, as any expansion must be both affordable and deliverable without detriment to current provision and waiting times, which the team has worked hard to maintain after the disruption of the Covid pandemic. While I am cautious about raising expectations at this stage, I am assured that all feasible options for moving to a second cycle are being actively considered.

While planning work is ongoing, it is not possible to give a definitive implementation date at this stage.