State-funded fertility treatment extended to include couples with one child
'Fertility issues can be devastating, and I am conscious that secondary infertility is a significant issue, with many people facing huge financial and emotional difficulties in their attempts to have a second child,' Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said.
'I have listened to the requests from parents in this difficult situation, and I am pleased that we are now in a position to make this potentially life-changing treatment available to more people.'
A woman is eligible for the state-funded treatment if she has not had IVF, has had just one round of privately funded IVF before and has no unused embryos still in storage or started tests for IVF but has not started taking IVF medicine.
An Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) Regulatory Authority will soon be established, with a recruitment campaign currently under way for the chief executive of the organisation.
'The recent campaign for appointment to state boards has now closed and suitable candidates have been identified. I hope to be in a position to make appointments to the board very soon,' Ms Carroll MacNeill said.
The minister said 'significant progress' is being made in relation to AHR legislation.
'Officials at my department are working closely with officials at the Department of Justice and the Department of Children to finalise the bill. Intensive work is under way to publish this legislation as soon as is practical,' she said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said work on a supplementary bill to deal with issues such as parentage and citizenship in respect of surrogacy arrangements and donor-assisted conception is also under way.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Trans women facing confusion over their eligibility under the free HRT scheme
THE ELIGIBILITY OF transgender women under the free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) scheme has sparked significant confusion among pharmacies. The Journal has spoken to several trans women about their experiences with the scheme. They report inconsistent approaches from pharmacies, with some trans women granted free HRT under the scheme, while others are denied. The Irish Pharmacy Union has confirmed to The Journal that they are seeking clarity on the issue from the Department of Health. A spokesperson for the organisation has said that 'there has been some confusion in practice as to the eligibility of certain prescriptions'. This is because some HRT medications, which are used to relieve symptoms of menopause, perimenopause and postmenopause, can also be prescribed to transgender people as part of gender-affirming healthcare. For those who have had an orchiectomy, HRT can be the sole source of their hormones, making it incredibly important to their ability to function normally. The legislation which gave power to the free HRT scheme does not specifically exclude transgender women from the scheme. Instead, it states that 'women who are ordinarily resident in the State and have been prescribed menopause products by a registered medical practitioner…and who are supplied with the menopause products from a pharmacy provider shall not be charged.' Adding to the confusion, the Minister of Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, was asked in March by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy whether trans women would be eligible under the scheme. But the Minister did not provide a clear answer, instead stating that the scheme covers HRT products 'which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause'. A spokesperson for the Department of Health echoed this statement when asked by The Journal . But many in the trans community argue that some of them do experience the same menopausal symptoms as other women if they stop taking HRT. They also argue that, as they have prescriptions for the same medicines as on the prescribed list, they should be entitled to access free HRT under the scheme. 'We are used to fighting for everything' The lack of clarity on the situation is leading to inconsistencies among pharmacies in their approach to transgender women seeking HRT under the scheme. The Journal has heard from several transgender people about their experiences with pharmacists. Niamh*, a trans woman living in Dublin, was denied free HRT under the scheme in June and again in July. She told The Journal that as she is post-orchiectomy, she should be covered under medically induced menopause – something that is specifically outlined in the legislation. Advertisement But when she asked the pharmacy if she was covered, she was told that because the products weren't being used to treat menopause, the pharmacy wouldn't be reimbursed. 'Going off HRT would literally be dangerous for me,' Niamh said. She added that while she can afford to pay for it, others can't, which is why the scheme was introduced in the first place. Confusingly, another trans woman who spoke to The Journal said that she has been able to access her prescription for free under the scheme from the very same pharmacy. Caoimhe, a trans woman from Cork, also told The Journal that she has also been forced to pay for HRT like before since the rollout of the scheme. Like others we spoke to, this HRT is 'medically necessary' in her case. But when she asked if she would be covered under the scheme, her pharmacy was unsure and didn't seem to have a clear answer. 'Without trying to be too critical of them, they were signed up to the scheme, but they didn't seem to have the clarity as to whether I was eligible or not,' she said. Caoimhe said that having to ask to even be considered under the scheme is 'utterly exhausting'. 'We are used to fighting for everything', she continued, 'this is what we're used to, and it's disappointing.' 'Unclear guidance from the Department of Health is creating unnecessary confusion and placing barriers in the way of equitable care,' a spokesperson for the Professional Association for Trans Health Ireland told The Journal . They added that pharmacists are 'ready and willing' to provide free HRT to trans women under the scheme, but 'they need confirmation from the Department of Health that trans people are included in the scheme.' They called on the Department to address the confusion, adding that 'trans people should be included without ambiguity'. A spokesperson for the Department told The Journal that 'there are no plans to expand the eligibility of this measure at this point.' The HSE also referred to the Department of Health for comment. *Name has been changed — Conor O'Carroll is an investigative reporter with The Journal Investigates . Our investigative unit is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. This takes time and it takes resources. Find out how you can help: Support The Journal Investigates Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
05-08-2025
- The Journal
Only 100 free-of-charge car parking spaces at new children's hospital not enough, say critics
OF THE 1,000 car parking spaces that will be available at the new National Children's Hospital, just 100 of them will be free-of-charge for families in need. It was revealed two years ago that car parking charges at the children's hospital will be capped at a maximum of €10 per day, something which sparked controversy at the time. In answering a parliamentary question, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the car park will be split across two floors of the new hospital with a total of 994 car park spaces. There are 319 spaces dedicated to staff and 675 for patients and families, of which 100 spaces are for those who will not be required to pay for parking, she confirmed. The new National Children's Hospital Ireland is located in the heart of south central Dublin city on the grounds of the wider St James' Hospital campus. Patients attending the hospital are encouraged to use public transport 'where possible' with just a limited of number of onsite parking with direct access to the main entrance. Access to the National Children's Hospital Ireland on the St. James' Campus is well served by public transport, said the health minister, though she acknowledged there is a need for families to access the hospital by car. However, Sinn Féin's David Cullinane has hit out at the government for giving over such a small number of free car parking spaces to families. Advertisement Government watering down promises Speaking to The Journal , he accused the government of watering down its previous promises around capping car parking charges in hospitals. 'My view is that car parking charges should be phased out in hospitals, but particularly when you're talking about children. There is a cost of a child being sick. Parents have to take time off work. Parents can be up and down the hospital a lot. 'Obviously, with a sick child, parents need to be there more often. So for all of those reasons, I've contended that all of the spaces should be free [at the new hospital],' he said. 'For only 100 of them to be free, it doesn't seem fair and doesn't seem right. As we transition to the new site, hopefully sometime next year, I would hope that the right decision will be made to ensure that car parking spaces are free,' said the Waterford TD. Promise to cap charge Hospital car park charges have been a contentious issue for a number of years. In 2018, the HSE undertook a national review of car parking charges at the request of the then-health minister Simon Harris. It recommended that hospitals should cap the maximum daily rate for parking at €10 and introduce concessions for regular patients and found that 'funding of approximately €4.75m would be required to offset the reduction in income as a result of these changes'. Reducing hospital parking costs became a key promise in the 2020 Programme for Government but there was little progress on the issue over the last five years. There are huge regional disparities in parking costs. According to the Irish Cancer Society, cancer patients in Dublin can pay up to five times more than those in rural areas. However, despite this being a key talking point for the last number of years, in particular as the 2026 opening date for the new children's hospital gets closer, the new Programme for Government has done away with a commitment to cap parking fees and now merely promises to 'explore further ways to reduce hospital car parking charges'. Related Reads Minister says wing of new children's hospital might be named after medic Kathleen Lynn The country's new children's hospital will be called (drumroll) – the National Children's Hospital Ireland Children's hospital may not open until 2026 due to 'risks' of moving sick children during winter The government's commitment on parking charges has been 'watered down' in the new Programme for Government, Cullinane said. Under Sinn Féin's policy, hospital charges would be phased out over a period of time, he said, stating that obviously, like any measure, it costs a lot of money and might be difficult to do in one go. 'But I don't have confidence that the government is going to do any more than what they have done,' he said, adding that the previous health minister Stephen Donnelly had expressed an opinion that car parking charges should be free. 'What we're seeing now in the new Programme for Government, in my view, is a rolling back of that, a watering down of it, with no detail as to what is actually meant in the programme for government. 'Now we have a situation where the new Children's Hospital potentially could have the vast majority of spaces at a cost and I think that's unacceptable, given that we're talking about sick children and parents visiting sick children. So the government needs to do the right thing and ensure that they're free from day one,' added Cullinane. Outsourcing hospital car parks Labour's health spokesperson Marie Sherlock agreed, expressing concern over the outsourcing of car parks to profit-maximising companies. She suggested that the new hospital should directly manage parking and therefore could increase free or low-cost spaces. 'The whole point of constructing these hospitals is that people are coming from right across the country and they will have to drive. They will not be there for short periods, they'll be there for long periods of time, either as an inpatient or outpatient. So the reality is that we have to have an accommodating situation with regards to car parking in the new National Children's Hospital,' said Sherlock. She said people are angry and upset over the high cost of parking charges at hospitals stating that there's a real responsibility with this new public building that patients and their families would be accommodated to much greater degree. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
30-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Health Minister visits Carlow healthcare facilities during whistle-stop tour of county
On a whistle-stop tour of Carlow, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was brought to St Dympna's Woodlands Garden Project, Kevlin Court, the Sacred Heart Hospital, the site of the proposed minor injury unit, and the new ambulance base. The minister was accompanied by Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Carlow Kilkenny TD Catherine Callaghan, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Martina Queally of HSE Dublin and South East, senior regional management, leadership and staff across both community and hospital services. 'HSE Dublin and South East Estates provided an update to me on the injury unit and the new ambulance base, based on St Dympna's campus, both projects will be beneficial in providing the right care at the right time to those living in Carlow,' said Minister Carroll MacNeill during her visit to Carlow. 'It was great to have this opportunity to visit with my colleagues, Minister Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and Catherine Callaghan TD and to see how much investment has been coming to Carlow and how much is to come to expand supports for those living in Carlow, who need them.' The first stop on the tour of Carlow was at St Dympha's Woodlands Garden Project which saw an area of overgrown ground transformed into a woodlands garden over the past year by staff and service users from the HSE's Carlow Mental Health Day Service Centre. Next, was a stop at Kevlin Court, a purpose built and self-contained residential intellectual disability care complex, which comprises of four bungalows (Barrow, Burren, Lir and Slaney). Located on St. Dympna's Hospital grounds, Kelvin Court provides medium‐to‐high support for up to 18 residents with intellectual disabilities. During the visit to Kelvin Court, the Health Minister was updated on the Photovoltaic (PV) installations at Kelvin Court, which has resulted in most of its own energy needs being met for the residents and staff of the disability care residential and support facilities. Minister Carroll MacNeill then visited the Sacred Heart Hospital, which is a 63-bed residential care centre facility, with accommodation arranged in three interconnecting units (the Sacred Heart, St. Clare's and St. James's units). During the visit, Ms Carroll MacNeill met with residents while they enjoyed their daily activities. Next on the whistle-stop tour was a visit to the proposed ten bay minor injuries unit, to be located at St. Dympna's Hospital. The unit will be under the remit of St. Luke's General Hospital. Minister Carroll MacNeill was briefed on plans for its development, its current progress by HSE Dublin and South East and how once fully operational, it will provide an alternative for patients with minor injuries instead of attending an emergency department. The final stop was at the site of the new ambulance base at Kelvin Grove. During her visit, the Health Minister heard how the design team will be appointed in the fourth quarter of 2025 after the project was included in the HSE Capital Plan. "Thank you to the Health Minister for coming to Carlow to visit our community-based healthcare facilities,' said Martina Queally of HSE Dublin and South East. "This gave us an opportunity to show the development of community healthcare facilities in Carlow over the last number of years and the importance of continued investment in community healthcare in this region. 'We look forward to growing and developing both hospital and community-based healthcare services and supporting those living in Carlow to access these services closer to home.'
