Couples facing challenges conceiving a second child will soon be able to access free fertility treatment through the State’s IVF scheme. The Department of Health has confirmed that the expansion is being finalized and is expected to launch by the end of the month.
This change will address what’s known as secondary infertility—when couples have difficulty having another child after already having one. Currently, the scheme is limited to couples with no living children together. The updated criteria will remove this restriction.
The government first announced plans to expand the scheme in October last year. However, the delay in implementing the change has drawn criticism. General practitioners had expressed concern about the so-called “existing child limit,” calling it unfair to families seeking to grow.
High Demand and Resource Concerns
There are ongoing worries about how well the current fertility services can handle increased demand. Ireland’s six regional fertility hubs already receive around 500 referrals each month for assessments.
By the end of May, these hubs had referred 2,335 patients to Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) providers for advanced treatments like IVF, ICSI, and IUI.
Patients usually wait about three months to see a consultant after completing the necessary assessments, according to the Department of Health. In earlier comments to RTÉ, Dr. Cliona Murphy, Clinical Director of the National Women’s and Infants Health Programme, noted that while some patients get initial appointments in 10–11 weeks, most see a specialist within six months.
Currently, 45 staff work across the six fertility hubs. This includes 13 consultants who also serve in maternity and gynaecology services. The remaining staff focus entirely on public fertility care.
Despite these efforts, concerns persist that the workforce may not be large enough to handle increased referrals.
Political Pressure and Restrictive Criteria
Labour TD Marie Sherlock has criticized delays and broken promises about expanding the scheme. She said families have postponed having another child based on government commitments that have yet to materialize.
“It’s beyond cruel to treat women and families in this way,” Sherlock said. She also highlighted the “very restrictive” nature of the scheme’s criteria.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill recently stated that she hopes to confirm the expansion “in the coming weeks,” but only if couples still meet all other requirements.
The Programme for Government commits to expanding access to publicly funded IVF and creating the first public AHR treatment center.
While further updates to the scheme’s criteria are being considered, the minister made it clear that clinical standards, such as BMI limits, are unlikely to change.
Any further changes will require ongoing discussions between the Department of Health, HSE officials, and fertility specialists.
First Public IVF Centre on the Way
Ireland’s first public Assisted Human Reproduction Centre is expected to open in Cork later this year. Services will begin in late 2025, with the center becoming fully operational by 2026.
Until then, most fertility treatments under the State scheme will continue to be provided through private clinics.
This long-awaited expansion brings hope to many couples hoping to grow their families, but also raises questions about whether Ireland’s fertility infrastructure is ready to support growing demand.
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