Vol. 498 No. 5
157 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the situation regarding sperm storage facilities for cancer patients; if he will make a commitment to provide this facility to ensure that Irish men, who have their fertility threatened by medical cancer treatment, can ensure the possibility of having a family in the future. [27981/98]
The human assisted reproduction unit at the Rotunda Hospital provides a service for certain men, including cancer patients, who wish to have their sperm frozen for possible future use. Persons who avail of this service do so in a private capacity. Services involving human assisted reproduction operate under guidelines issued by the Medical Council.
I have been aware of the need for this service for some time. I am not in a position to make a decision on financial assistance at present. However, I am keeping the matter under consideration.
